Climate and the circular economy
This topic area looks at how fixing the economy can help fix climate change.
Renewable energyRenewable energyEnergy derived from resources that are not depleted on timescales relevant to the economy, i.e. not geological timescales. is vital in order to address climate change, but it’s only half the story. Almost half of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the way we make and use things — we need a circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. to tackle those emissions and achieve the targets set out in the Paris Agreement.
In this episode, Ellen MacArthur is joined by Christiana Figueres, Global Optimism Co-founder and former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Together, they discuss the crucial role of the circular economy in the fight against climate change, financing climate action, Christiana’s role in the Paris Agreement — and why we should be optimistic about the future.
