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Governing the second deep transition towards a circular economy: How rules emerge, align and diffuse
Florian Kern1, Helen Sharp1, Samyra Hachmann1
1Institute for Ecological Economy Research, Potsdamer Str. 105, 10785 Berlin, Germany.
Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
|September 22, 2020
Summary
The EU is a key player in the potential second deep transition towards a circular economy, driving its development and global adoption for a sustainable future. This research explores the EU's role and suggests an actor-based approach for studying this transition.
Area of Science:
- Economics
- Political Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- The Deep Transitions framework has primarily analyzed the shift to industrial modernity.
- A potential second deep transition towards a circular economy offers a path to a more sustainable global economic system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the European Union's (EU) role in the development and diffusion of the circular economy concept.
- To understand the EU's adoption, formulation, and international promotion of circular economy rules.
Main Methods:
- Drawing on international relations literature.
- Analyzing the EU's actions in adopting and promoting circular economy principles.
Main Results:
- The EU has been instrumental in formulating and diffusing the rules for a circular economy.
- International relations theories help explain the EU's engagement with circular economy principles.
Conclusions:
- The EU plays a significant role in the unfolding second deep transition.
- An actor-based approach is recommended for future research on the circular economy transition.
- Critical reflections on the Deep Transitions framework are offered.
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