Tackling Climate Change Within the Emerging Circular Economy

Speaking last November in Marrakech at the Social Innovation and Global Ethics Forum (SIGEF 2016), and in the COP22 Green Zone, I had the opportunity to discuss climate in the context of the emerging circular economy. I was also fortunate to hear from some of the world’s leading innovators in this area. Representatives of the aviation industry, shipping industry, energy sector, agriculture sector, product manufacturing sector, and sustainable cities movement all delivered powerful messages of progress, with a clear call for further action.

As a business paradigm, the circular economy represents a maturing of the global business community. Under this philosophy, biological and mineral resources are no longer simply there for the taking, but are precious natural capital to be stewarded. Air, water, and ecosystems are no longer viewed as dumping grounds for wastes, but are community commons that must be protected. And products are not simply trinkets to be used and discarded, but are designed to serve their function, then to be reused, repurposed, or recycled with the least possible waste.

In essence, the circular economy seeks to emulate the earth’s complex balancing act that sustains life, wasting nothing in the process. Now, in this period of unprecedented climate change, it is essential for companies, governments and institutions to apply the lessons of the circular economy to our greatest challenge – stabilizing the Earth’s climate.  READ MORE