Towards circular cities

(MainsGS3:Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.)

Context:

• With growing urban pressures, cities now generate half of the global waste and 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to pollution, climate change and ecological degradation. 
• To achieve SDGs, cities across the world have adopted a circular economy to reduce the environmental impacts of urban economic growth.

Circular economy framework:

• Cities are central to the circular economy framework through the core practices of reduce, reuse, and recycle to minimise waste and pollution while keeping resources in the ‘loop’.
• Using nature as a template, the regenerative system of circular cities, from design to implementation, supported by policy innovations, infrastructure development, increased investments and capacity building, makes them different from linear urban models.
• Effective resource allocation, waste management, e-governance, and electric mobility are some steps towards making cities circular and competitive. 
• However, for policymakers, urban planners, and green investors, the current design of urban circularity remains largely focused on parameters related to economic growth, environmental impacts, and technical advancements while overlooking social inclusion.

Address societal concerns:

• Cities are inhabited by people and communities who create shared experiences by living, working, and coming together in urban spaces. 
• Cities are also recognised by their collective cultures, religions, lifestyles, histories, genders, and power structures. 
• Efficiently circular cities of the future will, therefore, have to address societal concerns and also how they can be more equitable and address the needs of even the less privileged in the planning process.

Examples across the  world:

• As the first successful urban model to transition to sustainable circularity, Amsterdam ensures people’s basic needs, such as food, water, housing, health, and social care, are provided. 
• The city’s circular plan also ensured job growth, reducing unemployment, increasing productivity and offering a reasonable standard of living for all. 
• On the other hand, Paris emphasises social (solidarity) innovation through the collaborative participation of its public-private-civil society actors in its circular model.

People at the core of circular cities:

• Policy reforms for urban circularity must incentivise multi-sector and multi-dimensional approaches to include all stakeholders.
• City planners, technology experts, and decision-makers can facilitate the creation of a collaborative circular network of businesses, services, and infrastructure that collectively responds to the needs of local economies. 
• There is an urgent need to scale alliances and co-creation at a global level to bring varied regional communities and ideas together for educating and creating awareness about circularity and green infrastructure.
• By advancing local clean water, air, food, mobility and energy systems India can provide direct economic benefits setting an example for challenges of the Global South.

Conclusion:

• Unless social impediments are addressed through evidence-based policy making, ensuring sustainable and accessible cities for all in the city will remain a power-laden, sluggish and cost-ineffective process.