Methodological framework for the implementation of circular economy in urban systems

Urban areas are hubs for innovation, economic activity and growth that hugely influence the development of our society, making those areas important drivers in the global transition towards circular economy. Although global policies are necessary to set the general ambition, local interventions are...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sánchez Levoso, Ana, Martínez Gasol, Carles|||0000-0003-3002-9229, Martínez Blanco, Julia|||0000-0001-6976-8956, Gabarrell Durany, Xavier|||0000-0003-1730-4337, Lehmann, Martin, Farreny Gaya, Ramon
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:218491
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/218491
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119227
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Circular economy
Urban transition
Urban system
Stakeholder engagement
Environmental management
Local intervention
Descripción
Sumario:Urban areas are hubs for innovation, economic activity and growth that hugely influence the development of our society, making those areas important drivers in the global transition towards circular economy. Although global policies are necessary to set the general ambition, local interventions are crucial to realize it. This paper presents a methodological framework aimed at facilitating the understanding and application of circular economy strategies in urban systems, that being a single city, or urban regions. The framework is conceived as a flexible structure that contains a network of potential decisions, describing different convergence and divergence points, and that is meant as a supporting tool for future urban circular economy implementation initiatives. After a literature review and an analysis of specific case studies on urban circular economy implementation, a four-phased methodology is proposed where the territory is explored in order to identify and select initiatives in the areas with greatest potential for circular economy. Actions needed to implement the selected initiatives are finally summarized in a roadmap. Each phase contains recommendations of different tasks to complete and available tools for achieving the expected results. Different approaches to adopt in the application of this methodology are discussed as well, such as production-based vs. consumption-based, and top-down vs. bottom-up. Special emphasis is put on the importance of involving local agents, in order to obtain specific and validated proposals that are adapted to the reality of the territory and the concerns of the stakeholders.