The Aurelio Peccei Lectures & Dialogues / 96th LECTURE

Inquiries on the Challenges of the 21st Century
Tuesday 12 April 2016 at Royal Academy of Belgium

THE NEW ECONOMIC MODEL:
CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND DECOUPLING

Dr. Janez Potočnik

Co-chair International Resource Panel (UNEP)
Former EU Commissioner for the Environment

Resource constraints, as well as increasing volumes of waste and pollution, are likely to become additional threats to welfare, well-being and a sustainable future for the Earth.

They affect the economy, business, profits and – in the end – also the consumers. It is becoming obvious that we urgently need a new economic model. This means decoupling, a transition to an inclusive and circular economy.

The circular economy is an industrial system that is restorative by intention and design. Rather than discarding products before their value is fully utilized, they should be re-used. Currently only a very small percentage of the original product value is recovered after use.

So far, studies on the circular economy focused primarily on the business case for enhanced resource efficiency. A broader perspective, including the social benefits by moving from a linear to a circular economy is needed.

Dr. Janez Potočnik, former member of the European Commission (2004-2014), shared facts and thoughts about the way forward. He is Co-chair of the International Resource Panel, a unique science-policy interface on sustainable use of natural resources.

*Please see the presentation of Dr. Potočnik >>HERE.

**Dr. Potočnik’u ettekande slaidid on leiatavad >>SIIN.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

♥ thank you for your contribution, Mr.Folkert Herlyn ♥

[A study report “The Circular Economy and Benefits for Society” by Anders Wijkman, Co-president of the Club of Rome, and Kristian Skånberg, was offered to the participants. Please get your copy from the ERK office.]

The lectures are delivered by distinguished expert speakers with various backgrounds. They are followed by a dialogue with the audience.

The cycle of lectures is named after Aurelio Peccei (1908-1984),
co-founder of The Club of Rome in 1968.

Klõpsa: värske Tsirkulaarmajanduse uuring