1. Urban Pathways Conference
16. Oktober 2017, Berlin
Low-carbon urban development in Asia, Africa and South-America: Contributions from Circular Economy
Dr. Henning Wilts

2. The CE concept
With that level of political and business interests, its not surprising that already the definition of the concept is highly contested. Douzens of definitions are circulating in Brussels with very different foci... Here for example the illustration by the EEA to which we contributed – a life cycle perspective,... Highly controversial because it states to minimize shipments and incineraton. Considering that Germany invested round about 10 billion euros in waste incineration capacities you can imagine the discussions we had about such a simple figure...
Henning Wilts

3. Circular Economy as emerging policy field
European Commission
“…much brighter future for the European economy (…)”, “prospect of sustainable growth that will last (…)“
ProgRess II
„Closing material cycles and preventing waste are key in attaining sustainable resource use.”
SDG 12.5 for waste reduction
“By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse”
Circular Economy
Henning Wilts

4. The Circular Economy provides three different types of dividends:
Economic Dividend
Ecological Dividend
Social Dividend
Innovation and reduced material and energy costs can generate competitive advantages for companies and regions
Reduced consumption of resources and recycled waste in production reduce the environmental impact locally
As a result of integrated product cycles, it is possible to reduce negative environmental impacts on the population and decouple economic growth from the use of resources
Decoupling economic growth from a raw material extraction:
Protection against price increases and volatility, against delivery problems in the area of resource procurement and reduces ecological footprint
More customer benefits through extended value chain (development, production, sales and redemption)
Circular value added + Energy revolution + Industry 4.0 = Driving force for economic growth, innovation and sustainability
Henning Wilts

5. Challenge 1: Closing urban dumpsites
Henning Wilts

6. Challenge 1: Closing urban dumpsites
3,5-4 billion people without access to controlled landfills ISWA 2017: If the situation follows the business as usual scenario then dumpsites will account for 8-10 % of the global anthropogenic GHG emissions by “It´s about people, not about waste!”
Henning Wilts

7. Bo City, Sierra Leone
Bo City, 2007 to 2018
Henning Wilts

8. Financial affordability of SWM
Source: Wilson 2016
Henning Wilts

9. Challenge 2: A new plastics economy
Source: EMF 2016
Henning Wilts

10. Challenge 2: A new plastics economy
Source: EMF 2016
Henning Wilts

11. Including the informal sector: Delhi
Enabling sustainable plastic recycling in the informal sector: simple and effective methods to segregate plastics containing hazardous additives
Hazardous plastic additives include brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and heavy metals, exposure to which can have considerable health effects, such as cancer.
Henning Wilts

12. Challenge 3: Waste as a resource
Kalundborg t CO2
Henning Wilts

13. Eco-Industrial Parks, Vietnam
Henning Wilts

14. Eco-Industrial Parks, Vietnam
Henning Wilts

15. Thank you very much for your attention!
This is the agenda for 2017 and we´re now very much looking forward to your feedback, your thoughts – as you heard the Unit is undergoing an ex-post open evaluation. and as you can imagine we´re extremely eager to hear if we can continiue in 2018 and under which framework conditions.
Dr. Henning Wilts