MiNa
Thu, 20/02/2025 – 13:37
Maria Nikolopoulou, member of the European Economic and Social Committee and the ECESP Steering Group, has written an article featured in the Open Access Government magazine!
She argues that the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) is Europe’s best bet for a sustainable future.
“As the world grapples with climate change, resource scarcity and geopolitical instability, one solution continues to gain momentum: the circular economy. Going circular could considerably reduce waste, lower emissions and drive sustainable economic prosperity. This transition is crucial for achieving the European Green Deal’s ambitions and getting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track.
For the EU, 2025 will be a circular economy year. For the first time, the circular economy is clearly included in the title of a European Commissioner. We expect a Clean Industrial Deal, a Bioeconomy Strategy and a Circular Economy Act. And yet, one of the most significant obstacles to circularity is fragmentation. Without coordination and the creation of synergetic ecosystems, businesses, NGOs, and policymakers are in danger of working at cross purposes, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.
The shift to a circular economy is no longer a niche discussion but a necessity. From fashion to food systems, construction to consumer goods, how we produce and consume will change whether we like it or not as the current trend exceeds our planetary limitations. The ECESP is helping to lay the foundations for the transition to occur in an organised way that will benefit people and the planet.”
