The objective of this project is to produce increased understanding about the concepts and foundations for future (circular) and green economy that secures the maintenance of the full range of ecosystem services on which society relies. The project synthesizes recent work related to the topic. Case studies will be utilised to reveal opportunities, but also barriers and challenges for the transformation into a zero waste, renewable- bio- and ecosystem-services-based production system. In addition, the project will will examine and see how (find examples) on how green engineering, organisation, green infrastructure, planning and other political measures can serve as instruments for environmental and climate mitigation, developing circular resource flows and prevent any irreversible use and depletion of resources, ecosystems and their services (water, air, land, soils and genes and nutrients).
The project is divided in three tasks that are connected, interrelated and collaborative.
- Defining a framework of green economy
- Case studies and lessons learned – opportunities, barriers and challenges for the transformation into circular green economy.
- The potential of green economy experiences in current and future markets, land use systems and their institutional frameworks.
Research Coordinator Riina Antikainen, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Riina.Antikainen@ymparisto.fi
Learning from comparative case studies – selected Green Economy cases from Finland, France, the Netherlands and Germany; presentation in the EPA network Green economy event 5.6.2015, Bryssel (pdf, 400 kB)