Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CE2019 (The sustainable transition to a low carbon, climate-resilient circular economy: Creating the knowledge base)
Reporting period: 2019-01-01 to 2019-12-31
The circular economy is increasingly attracting the attention of governments, businesses and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Europe and globally. This has been a result of a long-term development, following the need for resource-efficient, low carbon, sustainable economy. Many countries and governments have undertaken initiatives and action towards a more circular economy, although the concepts underpinning the circular economy are not new and the exact term was not always used. The European Union has been among the frontrunners in taking the earlier, more conceptual and scientific and also narrower circular economy (CE) approaches to policy and more comprehensive level.
The full potential of the circular economy will best be realised through broad-based cooperation and by fully exploiting the synergies to be found at the interface between the circular economy and cross-cutting themes like climate change, energy union, bioeconomy, digitalisation and industrial policy. Innovation will play a key part in systemic change to a more circular economy. Innovation programmes like the Eco-innovation Action Plan and funding programmes such as Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020), cohesion Policy, LIFE and COSME are already available but the funds still need to be strengthened and channeled to serve better the critical innovation and investment needs.
The main objectives of the CE2019 conference were:
• to strengthen the knowledge base and share the knowledge on the transition towards sustainable circular economy;
• to identify and present best examples of circular economy that can be verified, replicated, adapted and scaled up in Europe and worldwide;
• to strengthen collaboration with ongoing projects as well as provide possibilities for identification of potential new consortia for EU calls;
• to share information and identify new opportunities provided by low carbon circular economy with society, politicians and businesses;
• to promote efficient networking of various stakeholders and support to their activities, e.g. natural scientists, social scientists, businesses, investors, local authorities, environmental organisations;
• to support knowledge exchange and provide opportunities for hands-on experimenting on low carbon circular economy activities by museums and schools;
• to identify and summarize policy options and priorities via state-of-art knowledge and best practices presented at the conference; and
• to improve visibility, in particular in Finland, of the areas covered by Societal Challenge 5.
The full potential of the circular economy will best be realised through broad-based cooperation and by fully exploiting the synergies to be found at the interface between the circular economy and cross-cutting themes like climate change, energy union, bioeconomy, digitalisation and industrial policy. Innovation will play a key part in systemic change to a more circular economy. Innovation programmes like the Eco-innovation Action Plan and funding programmes such as Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020), cohesion Policy, LIFE and COSME are already available but the funds still need to be strengthened and channeled to serve better the critical innovation and investment needs.
The main objectives of the CE2019 conference were:
• to strengthen the knowledge base and share the knowledge on the transition towards sustainable circular economy;
• to identify and present best examples of circular economy that can be verified, replicated, adapted and scaled up in Europe and worldwide;
• to strengthen collaboration with ongoing projects as well as provide possibilities for identification of potential new consortia for EU calls;
• to share information and identify new opportunities provided by low carbon circular economy with society, politicians and businesses;
• to promote efficient networking of various stakeholders and support to their activities, e.g. natural scientists, social scientists, businesses, investors, local authorities, environmental organisations;
• to support knowledge exchange and provide opportunities for hands-on experimenting on low carbon circular economy activities by museums and schools;
• to identify and summarize policy options and priorities via state-of-art knowledge and best practices presented at the conference; and
• to improve visibility, in particular in Finland, of the areas covered by Societal Challenge 5.
The CE2019 conference was organized to compile the latest developments in the low carbon, climate-resilient circular economy, and to enhance networking, sharing information, and to boosting related activities in research, policies and business. The following themes were the conference topics: I) systemic change to circular economy at different sectors and operational levels, II) trade-offs between circular economy and other environmental goals, and III) low-carbon circular economy in cities. The aim of the project was to organize a conference “The sustainable transition to a low carbon, climate-resilient circular economy: Creating the knowledge base, CE2019” in cooperation with the Finnish government. The CE2019 conference was be part of European Days for Sustainable Circular Economy 30.9.-1.10.2019 Presidency Event Finland that was organized partly jointly and partly in parallel with two conferences that were ManuFuture and Sustainable innovation (SI).
The opening session on the first day of the two-day EDSCE19 conference was organised jointly by the three separate conferences, while the second day programs are conference-specific, taking place in parallel and in the same venue. The second day ended to a joint adjourn, that summarised and concluded the main findings and messages of the opening session and the three conferences, as well as draft key messages and recommendations for future actions on sustainable transitioning towards low carbon, climate-resilient circular economy in the European Union. Organising the three conferences jointly and in parallel brought several benefits, in particular as regards the visibility, spreading the information and invitations, management of the events, as well as the impact, networking, and sharing and dissemination of knowledge and resulting in common learning. Altogether almost 700 persons attended the EDSCE19 as a whole and around 200 participants attended the CE2019 conference.
One of the goals of the CE2019 conference was to ensure the engagement of all stakeholders and interested parties. This was guaranteed by the organizational structure of CE2019 being part of the wider EDSCE19 covering a wide range of target groups involved in the same premises. The participants signed up for one of the three conferences, yet were freely able to change sessions and thus have a possibility to interact with participants of other conferences. We invited internationally outstanding top politicians, scientists and thinkers who would discuss the role and influence of circular economy solutions in societies.
The CE2019 conference addressed the state-of the art of science in circular economy. Presentations, panel discussions and the poster session identified policy options, shared information and compared the viewpoints, enabled efficient networking of various stakeholders, including natural scientists, social scientists, businesses, investors, local authorities, policy-makers, environmental organisations and schools.
The opening session on the first day of the two-day EDSCE19 conference was organised jointly by the three separate conferences, while the second day programs are conference-specific, taking place in parallel and in the same venue. The second day ended to a joint adjourn, that summarised and concluded the main findings and messages of the opening session and the three conferences, as well as draft key messages and recommendations for future actions on sustainable transitioning towards low carbon, climate-resilient circular economy in the European Union. Organising the three conferences jointly and in parallel brought several benefits, in particular as regards the visibility, spreading the information and invitations, management of the events, as well as the impact, networking, and sharing and dissemination of knowledge and resulting in common learning. Altogether almost 700 persons attended the EDSCE19 as a whole and around 200 participants attended the CE2019 conference.
One of the goals of the CE2019 conference was to ensure the engagement of all stakeholders and interested parties. This was guaranteed by the organizational structure of CE2019 being part of the wider EDSCE19 covering a wide range of target groups involved in the same premises. The participants signed up for one of the three conferences, yet were freely able to change sessions and thus have a possibility to interact with participants of other conferences. We invited internationally outstanding top politicians, scientists and thinkers who would discuss the role and influence of circular economy solutions in societies.
The CE2019 conference addressed the state-of the art of science in circular economy. Presentations, panel discussions and the poster session identified policy options, shared information and compared the viewpoints, enabled efficient networking of various stakeholders, including natural scientists, social scientists, businesses, investors, local authorities, policy-makers, environmental organisations and schools.
The CE2019 conference involved original knowledge on circular economy policy, multi-functionality, effectiveness and management options. It helped to improve the use of the circular economy concept as well as to enhance the societal transition to circular economy. The broader goal of the CE2019 conference was to boost innovations in the EU and in circular economy areas overall by sharing best practices and knowledge at different levels of the society, which took place through the various, solution-oriented and forward-looking presentations and posters that have been published on the conference website (www.edsce19.eu).
The CE2019 conference strengthened synergies among various recent initiatives and programs launched by the European Commission and by the Member States to the benefit of the overall coherence. The joint conclusions and development of recommendation for future practical solutions and actions could stimulate implementation of circular economy in an innovative way. The key insights have been concluded in a Speeches publication by the Forum for Environmental Information.
Recommendations and key messages of the CE19 conference:
• Ambitious quantitative goals need to be set for reducing the use of virgin raw materials and for increasing the use of recycled raw materials.
• Horizon Europe programme should include a strong target on filling the circular economy knowledge gaps.
• Support for research is needed in order to recognize and fill the knowledge gaps. More data is needed on monitoring the impacts of circular economy on biodiversity, climate and society.
• Support for technological development is needed.
• Urging policy incentives and co-creation of policies is needed.
The CE2019 conference strengthened synergies among various recent initiatives and programs launched by the European Commission and by the Member States to the benefit of the overall coherence. The joint conclusions and development of recommendation for future practical solutions and actions could stimulate implementation of circular economy in an innovative way. The key insights have been concluded in a Speeches publication by the Forum for Environmental Information.
Recommendations and key messages of the CE19 conference:
• Ambitious quantitative goals need to be set for reducing the use of virgin raw materials and for increasing the use of recycled raw materials.
• Horizon Europe programme should include a strong target on filling the circular economy knowledge gaps.
• Support for research is needed in order to recognize and fill the knowledge gaps. More data is needed on monitoring the impacts of circular economy on biodiversity, climate and society.
• Support for technological development is needed.
• Urging policy incentives and co-creation of policies is needed.