Preface
The COVID-19 crisis has raised awareness of the unsustainable nature of certain environmental and social trends and provided renewed momentum for action on production and consumption patterns, in particular by capitalising on the potential of the circular economy. Whilst many firms are already beginning to embrace the benefits of the circular economy, as they move away from “take-make-dispose” linear systems, these efforts need to be supported by policies, governance structures, and legal and regulatory frameworks that are coherent across policy spaces, ensure all stakeholders are engaged, and that can foster innovation.
Because there is a very strong spatial dimension in these enabling mechanisms, and which is also inherent in achieving an effective circular economy, cities and regions have a powerful role to play in driving this transformation.
This report, which reflects the outcome of a two-year inclusive policy dialogue with more than 70 stakeholders, and draws on the benefit, expertise and guidance of peer-cities, analyses the potential of the circular economy in the city of Granada.
The report includes a number of recommendations and concrete actions that the city can undertake to promote, facilitate and enable this transition, capitalising on its political leadership and manifest commitment to develop multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral approaches that can drive the transition to sustainable pathways, as well as, new business models.
Granada is at the beginning of its transition from a linear to a circular economy but through its commitment to implement these recommendations and to raise their profile within our community and globally, it also has an opportunity to be among leaders, setting a path for other cities to follow.
Through our Programme on the Circular Economy in Cities and Regions, the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE) stands ready to support Granada with this endeavour, which is more relevant now than ever, as we look to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, and make the circular economy part of the solution towards healthier, less resource-wasteful and more environmentally aware societies.
