EU Ministers Urge Action To Accelerate Circular Economy

The European Union's environment and climate minister said that the EU must speed up its policy on circular economy in order to mitigate climate change and curb extinction of biological species.

Ben (2019) held a ministerial meeting in Helsinki from 11 to 12 July. The delegates attended the meeting, including Karmenu Vella, environment and marine affairs and Fisheries Commissioner, Jyrki Katainen, vice president of the European Commission, responsible for employment, growth, investment and competitiveness of the European Commission, and Per Klevn fortune s, Material Economics, Department of materials economics.

The topics discussed at the conference include material recycling, especially textile related materials recovery, and outline the contents of the circular economy plan.

"Climate change and biodiversity loss are the biggest challenges facing our age. From the "single use" culture to the "circular economy", the EU itself can cut half of its industrial greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Improving the recycling of materials can also reduce the pressure on natural resources caused by resource consumption. The competitiveness of the European Union must be based on sustainable development, climate change mitigation and energy conservation, and long-term use of renewable natural resources, "said Krista Mikkonen, Minister of environment and climate change.

According to the ministers, the goal must be a society that does not waste natural resources but creates new business opportunities from scarcity and problem solving. Production and consumption must be based on 6R for sustainable development: rejection, reduction, reuse, maintenance, remanufacturing and recycling.

They added that the EU must continue its ambitious policies to support the recycling economy. In other matters, the ministers discussed the necessity of formulating a new plan of circular economy action, that is, circular economy. 2, we should speed up the implementation of the circular economy and expand the cycle of action to all priority areas. They said that in particular, new measures were needed especially in areas related to construction, textiles, mobility and food.

The Ministry of environmental affairs of Finland said its goal was to draw conclusions on the circular economy on the basis of ministerial discussions, and its environmental committee will then discuss the circular economy in the autumn. The conclusion of the meeting will explain how the new committee can promote circular economy in the next five years.

"Now is the time to solve the sustainability crisis. Through joint efforts, the EU can find solutions to solve the climate crisis and prevent the sixth mass extinction. Our time window is closing. We must further enhance the image of EU leaders in global climate action, "Mikkonen said.