The window of opportunity for circular economy in Europe in the wake of the geopolitical turmoil

Abstract

One of the five circular economy (CE) principles is “localisation” or “localism”, understood as a smaller geographical consumption–production system that fits better with local needs. Rightfully, the rationale for localism is derived from ecological principles. However, these arguments remain debated and subsequently can fail to become operationalised in policy goals and measures. From a governance perspective, localism is perhaps the most important CE principle, as it is the only one that clearly links the circulation of resources to a confined area, and so to specific administrative areas, and eventually informs us “who is responsible”, and so will have the advantages, but also the disadvantages, of CE. In this chapter, we turn our attention to the European context, where the European Union (EU) and many of its member states have set out an ambitious policy agenda for moving towards CE. We argue that the current geopolitical turmoil provides a “window of opportunity” through which to clarify the responsibilities for driving a transition towards CE across levels of government and to seize the momentum to operationalise the localism principle and move European cities and regions towards more resilient, circular futures.