Project
With increasing populations and expanding wealth, global material consumption has seen a precipitous increase. These materials are often discarded after use (the so-called linear model). Moreover, the massive use and production of materials are also associated with the extensive use of energy. The emissions from structural materials are often difficult
With increasing populations and expanding wealth, global material consumption has seen a precipitous increase. These materials are often discarded after use (the so-called linear model). Moreover, the massive use and production of materials are also associated with the extensive use of energy. The emissions from structural materials are often difficult to decarbonise. As such, high levels of material consumption pose a major challenge for meeting climate targets. In this context, the circular economy (CE) has been presented as an alternative to the current linear model.
A circular economic system that aims to reduce primary material use (in addition to energy efficiency and fuel shifts) can address both Greenhous Gas emissions (GHG)s and increase resource efficiency. However, current GHG mitigation models and scenarios that inform climate policymakers do not generally include circular economy (CE) options. They also do not cover the possible synergies of the CE with other societal goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), nor the challenges involved in rearranging value chains and consumer behaviour.
CircoMod addresses these challenges by developing a new generation of advanced models and scenarios that will assess how CE can reduce future GHGs and material use. The project brings together a unique consortium of leading research teams from different disciplines, including industrial ecology and material flow modelling, process-oriented integrated assessment modelling, and macro-economic modelling. It aims for a breakthrough in integrating CE and GHG mitigation assessments by a) developing an analytical framework that maps circular economy strategies to existing influential climate scenarios; b) providing robust and timely CE data in an open repository; and c) improving the representation of the CE in leading models used by European and global institutions, while strengthening links between the models. It will provide input to international assessments such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Resource Panel (IRP).
The EU research fund Horizon Europe has awarded 5 million euros to the project, which is kicking off this week. The consortium consists of twelve partners from different EU countries. among which several IAMC members.