IDEAS FOR GOOD held “Circular economy hot topics from WCEF2024 / Growth vs Climate Conference debriefing”

On June 19, IDEAS FOR GOOD, a web media that collects ideas for making society better, held an online event “Circular economy hot topics from WCEF2024 / Growth vs Climate Conference debriefing” to provide an overview of European circular economy trends.

In these times of climate change, war, and economic instability, the idea of a “circular economy” that keeps resources circulating without discarding them has emerged amid the strong demand for concrete solutions. In Europe and other countries, this concept has been incorporated into policies and various practical examples have already emerged.

Is the circular economy currently steering in the right direction, and how should we address the emerging issues? To explore these questions, the editorial team attended two conferences, the World Circular Economy Forum 2024 and the Growth vs Climate Conference.

The World Circular Economy Forum 2024 took place in Brussels, Belgium, in April 2024. The conference was well attended by participants from the business and government sectors, and discussions focused on the practical aspects of the Circular Economy. In addition to the main sessions, workshops were actively conducted, providing an opportunity for participants to share knowledge and formulate new ideas.

Meanwhile, the Growth vs Climate Conference, held in Barcelona, Spain in March 2024, was a forum for exploring new models of sustainable economic growth, led by the academic sector. Discussions on “degrowth” were particularly noteworthy, ranging from practical degrowth models at the national level to examples of their application in local communities.

Photo by Marian Stănescu via World Circular Economy Forum

By attending these two conferences, the editorial team had the opportunity to hear from a wide range of experts, from practitioners to theorists. At this event, the editorial staff reported from its own perspective on how the discussion of the circular economy is unfolding in Europe and elsewhere, and what implications it has for Japan.

We are interested in the “one step ahead” discussion of the Circular Economy. Wanting to gain a new perspective on the issue of climate change – we invited everyone with such curiosity to join us.

Topics of the day

• Circular Economy in Europe Today
• Topics of interest from the “World Circular Economy Forum 2024” held in Brussels, Belgium
• Topics of interest from the “Growth vs Climate Conference” held in Barcelona, Spain
• Lessons Learned from the Conferences Attended and Implications for Japan

Featured Word

• Circular Economy
• De-growth
• Decolonization
• Fair Transition
• Climate Justice
• Care
• Citizen Participation
• DX and Resources (Critical Low Materials)
• Digital Product Passport
• Systems Thinking

[World Circular Economy Forum 2024] How can we make the transition to a circulareconomy at the global, transnational and local levels?

• What to think about the transition to a circular economy: How to maintain “fairness” in the circulation?
• How to prepare critical low materials essential for DX?
• Distribution of resources between Europe and Africa: War and circular reconstruction

[Growth vs Climate Conference] Thinking again about “economic growth” in the era of climate crisis. How will a fair transition be achieved?

• “De-growth” is an increasingly active debate in Europe. Background and New Perspectives
• Examples of “degrowth” and “doughnut economics” town planning in Southern Europe
• How to incorporate gender and non-Western societies into the economy?

[Reference] “Circular Economy Hot Topics in Discussions at International Conferences in Europe – WCEF2024/Growth vs Climate Conference Debriefing Session” will be held on 6/19 | IDEAS FOR GOOD (in Japanese)
[Related Site] IDEAS FOR GOOD (in Japanese)