Euro-China Green Economy theme: SINCERE (Sino-European Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency)
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Bartlett Sch of Env, Energy & Resources
Abstract
The SINCERE project (SINo-european Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency) is addressing the following priority themes under the Green Economy area:
- The greenness and dynamics of economies;
- Metrics and indicators for a green economy;
- Policies planning, and institutions (including business) for a green economy
- Green economy in cities and metropolitan areas.
A focus on resources, sustainable consumption and production is at the heart of the principles of the Green Economy, according to the UN. China and Europe have highlighted the importance of resource-efficiency and moving towards a 'circular economy'. Europe has adopted Resource Efficiency as a flagship initiative, and China passed a Circular Economy Law in 2009. In light of these policy developments, there is a need to better understand the importance of resource efficiency on economic performance, the metrics and indicators through which action can be motivated and monitored, the underlying drivers of change and prospects for the future, as well as the role of institutions and policies. SINCERE has been developed to address these issues by bringing together leading researchers from five countries: UCL ISR in the UK, the Institute for Applied Ecology in China, Wuppertal University and FHI-ISI in Germany, ParisMinesTech in France and UM-MERIT in the Netherlands.
A number of sometimes conflicting concepts can be found in debate describing desirable futures, e.g. the Green Economy, Sustainable Growth, etc. As the difference and the overlap across them is not always clear it is important to implement theoretical comparisons of these concepts and case studies exploring how they have been applied in Europe and China. Particular importance will be given to the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (CE/RE) and how they relate to the Green Economy. In addition to help deliver clarity in the theoretical debate, SINCERE will deliver new indicators for measuring CE/RE. As Indicators are critical for achieving policy goals, we will tackle them from three different angles through Emergy, innovation and SGAP-based indicators.
Policy and Institutional settings are clearly very influential on how our society moves towards a Green Economy. The journey of innovations from laboratories to the marketplace is very influenced by policies and institutions supposed to tackle the obstacles normally faced by new technologies. SINCERE will examine the importance of innovation in enabling resource efficiency, both in China and Europe, and will study what enables and prevents the development of new, resource-efficient technologies.
In the last part of the project SINCERE will examining historical patterns between CE/RE and macro-economic performance with particular focus on the relationship between CE/RE, economic competiveness, trade, and industrial structure. After having assessed past trends SINCERE will model how the future might look like by producing scenarios to analyse the implications of CE/RE on the economy, and the impact of policies. This will include multi-scale modelling, from the urban to the global scale. Models play a key role in economic and environmental policy, but often the issue of resources has been sidelined in economic modelling, leaving policymakers without clear guidance on the importance of the issues. Our modelling work will advance the state-of-the-art for analysis of the macro-economics of resources.
SINCERE is a collaborative project building on the comparative advantage of the partners and their knowledge of the national context to develop a truly multi-disciplinary project where disciplines such as neoclassical economic, system dynamics, econometrics, ecology and innovation studies find a space to make an overall compelling picture. Our workplan is integrated to ensure that this project has a legacy so that the ties developed between European and Chinese partners are here to stay and produce future projects.
- The greenness and dynamics of economies;
- Metrics and indicators for a green economy;
- Policies planning, and institutions (including business) for a green economy
- Green economy in cities and metropolitan areas.
A focus on resources, sustainable consumption and production is at the heart of the principles of the Green Economy, according to the UN. China and Europe have highlighted the importance of resource-efficiency and moving towards a 'circular economy'. Europe has adopted Resource Efficiency as a flagship initiative, and China passed a Circular Economy Law in 2009. In light of these policy developments, there is a need to better understand the importance of resource efficiency on economic performance, the metrics and indicators through which action can be motivated and monitored, the underlying drivers of change and prospects for the future, as well as the role of institutions and policies. SINCERE has been developed to address these issues by bringing together leading researchers from five countries: UCL ISR in the UK, the Institute for Applied Ecology in China, Wuppertal University and FHI-ISI in Germany, ParisMinesTech in France and UM-MERIT in the Netherlands.
A number of sometimes conflicting concepts can be found in debate describing desirable futures, e.g. the Green Economy, Sustainable Growth, etc. As the difference and the overlap across them is not always clear it is important to implement theoretical comparisons of these concepts and case studies exploring how they have been applied in Europe and China. Particular importance will be given to the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (CE/RE) and how they relate to the Green Economy. In addition to help deliver clarity in the theoretical debate, SINCERE will deliver new indicators for measuring CE/RE. As Indicators are critical for achieving policy goals, we will tackle them from three different angles through Emergy, innovation and SGAP-based indicators.
Policy and Institutional settings are clearly very influential on how our society moves towards a Green Economy. The journey of innovations from laboratories to the marketplace is very influenced by policies and institutions supposed to tackle the obstacles normally faced by new technologies. SINCERE will examine the importance of innovation in enabling resource efficiency, both in China and Europe, and will study what enables and prevents the development of new, resource-efficient technologies.
In the last part of the project SINCERE will examining historical patterns between CE/RE and macro-economic performance with particular focus on the relationship between CE/RE, economic competiveness, trade, and industrial structure. After having assessed past trends SINCERE will model how the future might look like by producing scenarios to analyse the implications of CE/RE on the economy, and the impact of policies. This will include multi-scale modelling, from the urban to the global scale. Models play a key role in economic and environmental policy, but often the issue of resources has been sidelined in economic modelling, leaving policymakers without clear guidance on the importance of the issues. Our modelling work will advance the state-of-the-art for analysis of the macro-economics of resources.
SINCERE is a collaborative project building on the comparative advantage of the partners and their knowledge of the national context to develop a truly multi-disciplinary project where disciplines such as neoclassical economic, system dynamics, econometrics, ecology and innovation studies find a space to make an overall compelling picture. Our workplan is integrated to ensure that this project has a legacy so that the ties developed between European and Chinese partners are here to stay and produce future projects.
Planned Impact
The research will provide evidence of considerable value to policymakers. Both the EU and China, along with many EU member states, have adopted high-level policies to advance resource efficiency and circular economy aspirations. However, existing data and insights are limited, both in terms of the likely economic implications of achieving higher levels of resource efficiency, and in terms of the drivers (principally innovation and technological change) of resource efficiency and the way in which these can be influenced by policy.
Through developing indicators for studying the green economy, we will enable researchers statistical agencies to better monitor resource efficiency. In particular, it is envisaged that recommendations will be made to the European Environment Agency and China's Ministry of Environmental Protection for indicators to use in monitoring progress towards resource efficiency and circular economy goals. The letters of support indicate interest from policy organisations (such as ADEME) and policy advisory bodies (e.g. OECD), and it is expected that this interest will grow as the project develops further insights and evidence.
Evidence on the comparative innovation performance, and on the effectiveness of innovation policy support, will be of direct use for those involved in developing innovation policy for resource efficiency. The analysis of co-evolution of policy with innovation system activities is likely to yield conclusions about policy design and co-ordination.
By advancing the state-of-the-art in macro-modelling of resource efficiency, SINCERE will enhance the analytic capacity of researchers and policy organisations for studying the importance of resource efficiency. The benefits will be felt both in terms of the substantive conclusions (for example, on the relative importance of various factors in contributing to resource efficiency at the macro level), and in terms of the methodological insights.
Impact will be achieved through the engagement of stakeholders directly in the work; through publication and dissemination of outputs; through the development of datasets and tools that will be springboards for further analysis - all these are set out in the pathways to impact plan.
Through developing indicators for studying the green economy, we will enable researchers statistical agencies to better monitor resource efficiency. In particular, it is envisaged that recommendations will be made to the European Environment Agency and China's Ministry of Environmental Protection for indicators to use in monitoring progress towards resource efficiency and circular economy goals. The letters of support indicate interest from policy organisations (such as ADEME) and policy advisory bodies (e.g. OECD), and it is expected that this interest will grow as the project develops further insights and evidence.
Evidence on the comparative innovation performance, and on the effectiveness of innovation policy support, will be of direct use for those involved in developing innovation policy for resource efficiency. The analysis of co-evolution of policy with innovation system activities is likely to yield conclusions about policy design and co-ordination.
By advancing the state-of-the-art in macro-modelling of resource efficiency, SINCERE will enhance the analytic capacity of researchers and policy organisations for studying the importance of resource efficiency. The benefits will be felt both in terms of the substantive conclusions (for example, on the relative importance of various factors in contributing to resource efficiency at the macro level), and in terms of the methodological insights.
Impact will be achieved through the engagement of stakeholders directly in the work; through publication and dissemination of outputs; through the development of datasets and tools that will be springboards for further analysis - all these are set out in the pathways to impact plan.
Organisations
- University College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Wuppertal (Collaboration)
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Collaboration)
- Peking University (Collaboration)
- CIRED (Collaboration)
- Columbia University (Project Partner)
- Organisation For Economic Co-Operation and Development (Project Partner)
- MingDao University (Project Partner)
- World Resources Forum (Project Partner)
- APRSCP (Project Partner)
- Agence De L'Environnement Et De La Maitrise De L'Energie (Project Partner)
Publications
Yu Z
(2018)
A general equilibrium analysis on the impacts of regional and sectoral emission allowance allocation at carbon trading market
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Lu Y
(2016)
Changes of human time and land use pattern in one mega city's urban metabolism: a multi-scale integrated analysis of Shanghai
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Türkeli S
(2019)
Circular Economy as a Glocal Business Activity: Mobile Phone Repair in the Netherlands, Poland and China
in Energies
McDowall W
(2017)
Circular Economy Policies in China and Europe Circular Economy Policies in China and Europe
in Journal of Industrial Ecology
Türkeli S
(2018)
Circular economy scientific knowledge in the European Union and China: A bibliometric, network and survey analysis (2006-2016)
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Huang B
(2018)
Construction and demolition waste management in China through the 3R principle
in Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Schleich J
(2017)
Effects of policies on patenting in wind-power technologies
in Energy Policy
Huang B
(2019)
Embodied GHG emissions of building materials in Shanghai
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Tian X
(2017)
Environmental and resources footprints between China and EU countries
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Udalov V
(2017)
Environmental motivations behind individuals' energy efficiency investments and daily energy-saving behaviour: evidence from Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium
in International Economics and Economic Policy
Bleischwitz R
(2018)
Euro-China Green Economy theme: SINCERE (Sino-European Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency) - ESRC
in Impact
Tian X
(2018)
Evolution of China's water footprint and virtual water trade: A global trade assessment.
in Environment international
Bleischwitz R
(2018)
Extrapolation or saturation - Revisiting growth patterns, development stages and decoupling
in Global Environmental Change
Dussaux D
(2018)
How much does recycling reduce imports? Evidence from metallic raw materials
in Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy
Geng Y
(2019)
How to globalize the circular economy.
in Nature
Yu N
(2017)
Innovation of renewable energy generation technologies at a regional level in China: a study based on patent data analysis
in International Economics and Economic Policy
Walz R
(2017)
Innovations for reaching the green sustainable development goals -where will they come from?
in International Economics and Economic Policy
Chen W
(2017)
Life cycle assessment of antibiotic mycelial residues management in China
in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Tian X
(2017)
Regional disparities in the Chinese economy. An emergy evaluation of provincial international trade
in Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Welfens P
(2017)
Resource efficiency, circular economy and sustainability dynamics in China and OECD countries
in International Economics and Economic Policy
Huang B
(2019)
Review of the development of China's Eco-industrial Park standard system
in Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Raimund Bleischwitz
(2016)
Saturation and Growth Over Time: When Demand for Minerals Peaks
Agnolucci P
(2017)
The causal impact of economic growth on material use in Europe
in Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy
Welfens P
(2017)
The ETS in China and Europe: dynamics, policy options and global sustainability perspectives
in International Economics and Economic Policy
Kemp R
(2017)
The innovation trajectory of eco-cement in the Netherlands: a co-evolution analysis
in International Economics and Economic Policy
Winning M
(2017)
Towards a circular economy: insights based on the development of the global ENGAGE-materials model and evidence for the iron and steel industry
in International Economics and Economic Policy
Yushkova E
(2017)
What explains the intention to bring mobile phones for recycling? A study on university students in China and Germany
in International Economics and Economic Policy
| Description | Most significant achievements SINCERE has been a fascinating project with international partners on a subject of global interest - how will the Chinese economy be developing over the next years and decades, and how could concepts of resource efficiency and circular economy shape current unsustainable trends. The project has delivered on all angles and generated very useful capabilities for future collaborations, especially between the two key partners UCL and SJTU. The three most significant achievements are as follows: 1) Evidence on a saturation effect - We addressed the question of Chinese resource consumption pathways in a novel combination of historical data, material flow analysis and economics, and compared with historical evidence for UK, USA, Germany and Japan. The paper published in 'Global Environmental Change' reveals a likelihood of the Chinese economy coming to a saturation in the demand for key materials (steel, cement, copper) rather soon in contrast to many current scenarios. 2) New macro-economic modelling capabilities - We could establish a new macro-economic model (CGE type) able to address questions of material supply and demand for China, other regions, and the world. We consider it the first CGE model with an extension into physical data for materials and a full account of the steel supply chain. We are grateful for the grant supporting those activities, although back then UCL was not considered a CGE expert group. Through hiring and collaboration with two Chinese colleagues we could close that gap. Therefore, we can now address the question of future steel markets and recycling. A first paper has been published in 'International Economics and Economic Policy', others can be expected to follow. 3) MoU & research capability - We have signed a MoU between UCL (Vice-Provost level) and SJTU that is helpful in driving further collaborations now that this grant is over. Examples include visiting researchers on both sides, a high-level joint publication (submission enquiry with Nature), joint proposals, and a planned dual MSc on the circular economy. In the following we provide a list of our objectives (shortened version) and our responses. O1. New indicators - SINCERE contributed significantly to a much better understanding on how indicators are being formulated and applied in China, strengths and weaknesses of current indicators, and potential new ones. Evidence for outcomes is done through one publication (JIE), another one being in the review process, and others addressing the issue. We can't say we have been able to establish a new one, while we are able to grasp the challenges involved in such an endeavor: significant differences in the contexts between China and EU, significant governance challenges within China. O2. New quantitative tools based on multiscale modelling - Yes, see above (2). O3. Understand drivers and barriers - SINCERE contributed significantly to a better understanding about barriers and drivers related to indicators (see above O1) and innovation systems e.g. of cement. Some learning outcomes have been more tacit related to specifics of the Chinese system (provinces - central government, maintaining established industries, policy inconsistencies). O4. Understand historical influences - SINCERE has done econometric time series analysis with results on recycling markets, green patents, changing patterns of international trade. On the political economy see also the response on O3. O5. Greater conceptual clarity - SINCERE has been a milestone in shaping the mutual understanding of key concepts on both sides, as evidenced through publications (some of which are yet to be accepted) and a special issue. We learned a lot about how current concepts fit into policy styles and discourses evolving over years, e.g. China needing to respond to urgent environmental pressures, while the EU tends to build on a long tradition of environmental policies. O6. Collaborative working relationships - Excellent, see above (3). We appreciate the ability of Chinese researchers to publish papers in collaboration. Issues we consider difficult to accomplish are as follows: Chinese researchers have a larger incentive to stay in the UK compared with UK researchers visiting China. If so, projects need to support the bench fees that need to be paid in UK universities, and seek to provide more mobility incentives for our researchers. Yet we expect Chinese universities to become more attractive over the next years, with higher reputation and more international staff. Much of the evidence in comparative assessments done in Europe via interviews is hard to conduct in China, as surveys and interviews are less common. In a more general view, there is a challenging gap between research such as SINCERE and the work of think tanks and NGOs such as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, SystemIQ and others, who can attract large funding based on impact expectations while universities need to focus on methodologies. Finding ways of how expected impacts and novel methodologies can be combined in a way that meets requirements for funding and academic career development is on our agenda for future collaborations. |
| Exploitation Route | Our new model UCL ENGAGE (materials) has been acknowledged by the OECD, and our efforts are part of ongoing OECD work on the expected world demand for materials in 2060 and their work on future policies for a circular economy. We are also in contact with UNEP's International Resource Panel. We would expect our work to be of relevance for the steel industry and are working on our communication with them. Their models however tend to be more technically oriented and we need to communicate advantages (and limitations) of a macro-economic approach. There are indications of policy makers (European Commission/EU, Shanghai, UK) taking forward our findings, e.g. on indicators and policy coordination; yet we realise SINCERE is one out of some projects shaping such policies. As mentioned earlier, the European Commission has been using one of our papers as background document during their stakeholder mission related to a circular economy to China in Nov 2015, and the new MoU between China and the EU (7/2018) will bring forward more activities. We also had a final conference with Chatham House in Dec 2017 and 'Science Impact' has been disseminating our project too. Much will depend on how we continue our efforts, our collaboration and how our results are being published and communicated. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Construction,Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport,Other |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sincere |
| Description | Findings have been used as background information to the European Commission's circular economy mission to China in Nov 2016. The project has also strengthened UCL ISR's ties with partner institutions regarding research on the circular economy and the resource efficiency. In particular, this has led to the MoU between SJTU and UCL regarding a new dual MSc on the circular economy. Also, our collaborations with Chatham House was taken forward through new research funding proposals. Some of our publications could contribute to wider impacts - a comment on the circular economy published in 'Nature' and jointly written by our Chinese collaborator Geng Yong, myself and a third author received wide media attention. I also published findings in 'open access government' and 'impact' and was speaker at the recent 'disruptive innovations festival' conducted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Other use has been on a workshop conducted by the Jean Monet Network at UCL in March 2019 and a collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation for a forthcoming visit of a high-level policy delegation from China. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Education,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | A working paper of SINCERE was circulated as background material prior to the European Commission's CE mission to China to all members of the delegation |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Title | Macro-economic model ENGAGE |
| Description | The ENGAGE-materials model and database were developed as part of the macroeconomic modelling efforts of the project with the aim of considering the economic and sectoral effects of potential policies of a circular economy and resource efficiency affecting materials and resources at the stages of extraction, production and recycling. The model comprises an advanced level of detail of the global steel supply chain from iron mining, to primary and secondary production and to the recycling of steel scrap. Furthermore, the dynamics of steel demand are captured by taking into account the effects of economic structural change and those of changes in the steel intensity-of-use by downstream sectors. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The model has been used for preliminary work regarding steel production outlooks and steel recycling policies in China. Results have been presented on a number of occasions (GTAP 2017 Conference, SINCERE Final Conference, OECD-GTAP long-term baselines workshop) and a subset has already been included in a journal paper in July 2017 (10.1007/s10368-017-0385-3). The OECD Environment Directorate have also expressed interest in the modelling methods used for ENGAGE-materials and have proposed a secondment with the interest of aligning their CGE model specification (ENV-Linkages) with ENGAGE-materials. |
| Description | Establishing a dual MSc on the circular economy between UCL and SJTU |
| Organisation | Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | UCL and SJTU have signed a MoU about a broader collaboration beyond SINCERE. A new area to be addressed beyond research is a dual MSc on the circular economy. The MoU between the two universities was signed in Shanghai by Professor Zhen Huang, Vice President of SJTU, and Dame Nicola Brewer, Vice-Provost of UCL. The plan is to develop the dual MSc programme throughout 2018 and have a first intake of students in the academic year 2019/20. The collaboration is also extended for the existing UCL ISR MSc in Sustainable Resources through the introduction of a new optional Circular Economy teaching module. ISR has contributed expertise, especially on the existing MSc SRes, intellectual input, and staff. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner GENG Yong has been particularly active in this partnership as he became Dean at SJTU. They have visited UCL four times during the last 12 months, including visits at vice-provost level. |
| Impact | This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration comprising environmental science, engineering, economcs, policy analysis, modelling. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Macro-economic modelling collaboration |
| Organisation | Peking University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A new macro-economic modelling collaboration with Peking University was facilitated by Professor Gen Yong. The aim of this joint work is to increase the level of detail regarding circular economy policies in China through the use of a China CGE model with a provincial disaggregation. The UCL ENGAGE-materials model would thus be complemented by the China model to explore the emissions impacts of steel recycling in China. The visit by Dr. Hancheng Dai from Peking University at UCL ISR in November 2017 enabled the alignment of the two models. The design and content of two papers was discussed with first joint model simulations in December 2017. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner contributed with an advanced sectoral detail of the Chinese economy enabling an improved representation of material use for China in the global ENGAGE-materials model. Dr. Hancheng Dai also contributed to the definition of a baseline steel demand in China in a time horizon up to 2050. |
| Impact | Global and national CGE modelling simulations, two journal papers to be produced by mid-2018. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Modelling Forum |
| Organisation | CIRED |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Following a SINCERE project meeting we conducted a forum on 'Advances in the Modelling of Innovation and Finance in Macroeconomic Models' together with another project, Green.Win The meeting on 13th and 14th of October 2016 in Paris is targeted at understanding the current state of the art of incorporating endogenous technological change into top-down macroeconomic modelling tools, including equilibrium-based models such as GEM-E3 and econometric/disequilibrium models, as well as understanding and sharing the practical experiences and difficulties involved in implementing such innovation modelling. With several projects focussed on issues related to the area (GREEN-WIN, SINCERE, INNOPATHS, RIPPLES, CIRCLE) this meeting is a chance to learn from each other's practical experiences in an open environment, and thereby inform a number of model-based projects developing over the coming year(s). We organized the forum and contributed two inputs, one on resource efficiency, another one on CGE Perspectives on how to approach modelling innovation and finance. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Other contributions came from JF Mercure, M. Grubb, Antoine Mandel, Leonidas Parroussos, Jean-Charles Hourcade |
| Impact | Members of the OECD ENV macro-economic modelling team attended. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Project Journal Special Issue - International Economics and Economic Policy |
| Organisation | Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
| Department | School of Environmental Science and Engineering |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The special issue was edited jointly by Paul Welfens, Raimund Bleischwitz and Yong Geng. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Dr. Welfens has contributed to the project, as Managing Editor of the journal International Economics and Economic Policy, in managing the publication of a special issue in July 2017. This special issue was entitled "Resource Efficiency, Circular Economy and Sustainability Dynamics in China and OECD Countries" and featured innovative contributions in the fields of resource efficiency, the circular economy, sustainability, and environmental economics - concerning topics such as recycling, eco-cement, energy-saving behaviors, renewable energy and emission trading systems. |
| Impact | Journal Special Issue comprising eight articles. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Project Journal Special Issue - International Economics and Economic Policy |
| Organisation | University of Wuppertal |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The special issue was edited jointly by Paul Welfens, Raimund Bleischwitz and Yong Geng. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Dr. Welfens has contributed to the project, as Managing Editor of the journal International Economics and Economic Policy, in managing the publication of a special issue in July 2017. This special issue was entitled "Resource Efficiency, Circular Economy and Sustainability Dynamics in China and OECD Countries" and featured innovative contributions in the fields of resource efficiency, the circular economy, sustainability, and environmental economics - concerning topics such as recycling, eco-cement, energy-saving behaviors, renewable energy and emission trading systems. |
| Impact | Journal Special Issue comprising eight articles. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Chatham House Roundtable - Circular Economy in Europe and China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On 8 December 2017, partners from the SINCERE project attended a high-level roundtable event at Chatham House on circular economy in Europe and China. The event was organised by the Hoffmann Centre of Sustainable Resource Economy from Chatham House in collaboration with the SINCERE project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://hoffmanncentre.chathamhouse.org/events/2017/12/the-circular-economy-and-resource-efficiency-... |
| Description | GTAP Conference 2018 - Organised Session on the Circular Economy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A special session has been arranged jointly by UCL ISR and the OECD for the GTAP 2018 Conference in Colombia on the current state of the art and future modelling possibilities for the Circular Economy. It will be chaired by Alvaro Calzadilla and a presentation will be given on UCL modelling efforts from Matthew Winning as well as presentations from the OECD and Chile |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.gtap.agecon.purdue.edu/events/conferences/2018/default.asp |
| Description | Invited keynote Seoul, South Korea |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited keynote to the ASEIC Global Eco-Innovation Forum 2016, Seoul |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.aseic.org/center/forum/global_2016.do |
| Description | Invited keynote Seville |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I was invited keynote speaker at the INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE NOW, CIRCULAR ECONOMY, Seville, Spain, on March 16th and 17th 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.acrplus.org/index.php/en/events/upcoming-events/event/269-international-conference-now-th... |
| Description | Panel contribution National CSR Awards, London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I was invited panelist at the National CSR Awards, London 12 May 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://nationalcsrawards.co.uk/csr-conference/ |
| Description | Policy panel on the circular economy at EAERE |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I organized a policy session at the Annual meeting of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists on 23 June 2016 in Zurich, entitled A Circular Economy in Europe: Relevance, Issues, and Policy Options. Speakers and contributions to the session: • Prof. Dr. Raimund Bleischwitz, Deputy Director and Chair on sustainable global resources at the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, formerly member of the EU expert group on a systemic approach to eco-innovation and a circular economy, currently leads a collaboration project on the circular economy with Chinese partners. He will present findings on different circular economy concepts, the 'web of constraints' hindering firms to eco-innovate, and policy tools. • Robbert Droop, Dutch Ministry for the Environment, leads the Dutch delegation e.g. at the EU Horizon 2020 programme on a circular economy and for the EU Environment Council. He will present findings and experience from the Dutch EU presidency in the 1st half of 2016 and give an outlook on expected changes (the usual disclaimer applies). Furthermore he will share insights from The Netherlands on the topic. • Prof. Dr. Paul JJ Welfens is the president of the European Institute for International Economic Relations (EIIIW) at the University of Wuppertal and has the Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration and also a chair in Macroeconomics. He will emphasise the economics of recycling and green ICT as two pillars of a circular economy in Europe - the role of (green) ICT is much underestimated in the policy community, and international diffusion of best practice in recycling stands for a new challenge. Moreover, key insights from the EIIW-vita composite sustainability indicator will be presented in line with the OECD requirements on composite indicators. • Prof. Roberto Zoboli, full professor of environmental economics at Catholic University of Milan, is leader of the work package on 'Sectoral integration and the green economy' of ETC/WMGE - the topic centre of the European Environment Agency on 'Waste and Materials in a Green Economy'. He is currently involved in the activities on circular economy of ETC/WMGE and the European Reference Model on Waste managed by EEA. He will present some emerging issues in the economic measurement and implications of a circular economy (e.g. net value added and employment creation) vis à vis its environmental implications. This critical role of integrated economic and environmental assessment for a European circular economy policy will be discussed also with reference to international aspects (e.g. trade). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.eaere2016.ethz.ch |
| Description | Presentation at OECD expert workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Dr. Matthew Winning gave a presentation on the ENGAGE-materials modelling efforts regarding the long-term dynamics of the steel sector. The presentation was part of a special session on energy and environment modelling within a larger expert workshop jointly organised by the OECD and GTAP at the OECD Headquarters on "Shaping long-term baselines with CGE models". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | SINCERE Final Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On 7 December 2018 the SINCERE project hosted its final conference. The conference brought together leading experts on Chinese and European dynamics, long-term trends, modelling perspectives and emerging eco-innovations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sincere/news/index/edit/Final-conference-proceedings |
| Description | Seminar at Centre Cournot |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | I gave a seminar speech on 25th May at the Centre Cournot in Paris, France, on "Jevons and the dynamics of industrialisations: Lessons from the past and an outlook into the future" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.centrecournot.org |