Policy Expo: Going Circular: Unlocking the Potential of Regions and Cities to Drive the Circular Economy Transition
The Regional Studies Association has awarded a Policy Expo to do research into how to go circular and unlocking the potential of Regions and Cities to drive the Circular Economy Transition. The research will be led by:
- Marcin Dąbrowski, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
- Joanna Williams, The Bartlett School of Planning – University College London, UK
- Karel Van den Berghe, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
- Ellen van Beuren, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
Circular Economy (CE) becomes a central tenet of sustainability policies at different governmental levels, however, it goes largely under the radar of regional and urban studies scholars. The implications of CE transitions for regions and cities are seldom critically analysed, whereas the emerging CE policies tend to ignore the spatial and governance issues, at risk of failing to tap into the potential of CE as a catalyst for sustainable regional and urban futures. This policy impact book bridges that gap by proposing a holistic perspective on CE using a spatial lens. This allows for (i) exploring what ‘going circular’ will entail for regions and cities in terms of decision-making, socio-economic, or environmental challenges; and (ii) shedding light on the socio-economic, environmental and regenerative potentials that CE transitions offer. The policy impact book gathers critical perspectives on CE implications for regions and cities, while formulating clear policy recommendations and setting an agenda for future research.
Past Event
2022 RSA Winter Conference Special Session:
SS05: The Transition to Circular Cities and Regions: A Critical Reflection
Session organisers: Karel Van den Berghe and Marcin Dabrowski, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands; Joanna Williams, University College London, UK
Circularity policies and strategies are emerging across the world, however, they tend to overlook the spatial implications of ‘going circular’ and the potentials that circular economy brings to rethink regional and urban economies, regenerate degraded urban and peri-urban areas, and promote social cohesion and bottom-up community activity.
This session invited researchers that enact on the spatial implications/requirements of the circular economy transition – open for empirical, methodological, or theoretical work.