AUTHOR: Mats Engström

A new Think2030 paper looks at the opportunities for the circular economy to reduce the EU’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with three of its most carbon-intensive sectors: the built environment, mobility, and food.

Circular economy solutions have great potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many opportunities exist in the built environment, urban transport and the food sectors, and in other areas as well.

In a new paper, IEEP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation analyse possibilities as well as challenges, and highlight policy measures that could be taken.

In addition to sector-specific action, the authors also describe five transversal policy levers:

• To reflect the importance of the circular economy in climate policy such as the “Fit for 55 package” scheduled for spring 2021;
• To mainstream a circular economy approach in the EU Industrial Strategy;
• To strengthen resource efficiency aspects in the European Semester process;
• To prioritise the transition to a low-carbon circular economy in the use of the EU budget and recovery fund
• To foster global cooperation on circular economy through instruments such as trade policy

The paper is part of the Think2030 process launched by IEEP and its partners to identify science-policy solutions for a more sustainable Europe.