A new study published by the European Forest Institute calls for collective action to put nature at the heart of the economy and set the world on a sustainable path.
Written by a multidisciplinary team of over 25 authors, led by EFI Director Marc Palahí, the 10-point Action Plan for a Circular Bioeconomy of Wellbeing brings together the latest scientific insights and breakthrough technologies to offer a solution to current global challenges.
The publication features a Foreword by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, who says: “I have been deeply encouraged by the number of scientists and practitioners who have come together to develop a 10-point Circular Bioeconomy Action Plan inspired by my Sustainable Markets Initiative and its Circular Bioeconomy Alliance. It is time for leaders, across all disciplines, to step forward, be bold in their ambition and demonstrate what is possible so that others can follow.”
The Action Plan emphasises the importance of moving towards a circular bioeconomy to holistically transform and manage our land, food, health and industrial systems with the goal of achieving sustainable wellbeing in harmony with nature. Global challenges like climate change, and biodiversity loss, coupled with a growing and highly urbanised population call for new ways of producing and consuming within our planetary boundaries. At the same time, we need to achieve sustainability while ensuring equitable prosperity. The health and wellbeing of our citizens is a strong incentive to rethink our land, food and health systems, transform our industries and reimagine our cities.
The study sets out 10 Action Points which are needed to create a circular bioeconomy based on a synergistic relationship between economy and ecology:
1. Focus on sustainable wellbeing
2. Invest in nature and biodiversity
3. Generate an equitable distribution of prosperity
4. Rethink land, food and health systems holistically
5. Transform industrial sectors
6. Reimagine cities through ecological lenses
7. Create an enabling regulatory framework
8. Deliver mission-oriented innovation to the investment and political agenda
9. Enable access to finance and enhance risk-taking capacity
10. Intensify and broaden research and education
Download the study here: https://doi.org/10.36333/k2a02
The publication was developed within the framework of the Sustainable Markets Initiative of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. It received support from Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund.
Ms Rach Colling
Head of Communications
European Forest Institute
Yliopistokatu 6B, 80100 Joensuu, Finland
Tel: +358 50 5956717
Email: rach.colling@efi.int