Circular Economy and Climate Change: The State of National and Global Evidence on Mitigation Potential

While global resource use and GHG emissions keep increasing, the circular economy (CE) has ascended to the forefront of global policy, business and research agendas.

Through narrower, slower, and more closed material cycles, the CE aims to avoid waste and reduce virgin raw material demand, thereby potentially also mitigating energy demand and GHG emissions.

Through a review of national to global studies, we synthesize evidence that narrower, slower, and more closed material cycles could on average mitigate GHG emissions by 17%.

When CE measures are complemented with energy efficiency and decarbonization of energy supply and industry, an average GHG mitigation potential of 50% is found. This indicates that the CE might have substantial mitigation potentials, if combined wisely with other supply- and demand-side measures.

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