Latest News

CURRENT AFFAIRS, WHATS NEW

What is a circular economy?

The European Union has called for support for technological transfer to enhance the ‘circular economy’ at a working group meeting held ahead of the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2). Document Submitted by the African Group
  • According to a working document submitted by the African group to the UN, the circular economy must become an integral component of the national and regional development plans.
    • The African group is one of the five UN regional groups which consists of 54 countries from the continent.
  • The products and resources are made, used and disposed in a linear economy whereas they are recycled, repaired and reused in a circular economy.
  • As per the Draft Resolution on Enhancing circular economy document, Integration and embedding circular principles and goals across industries and government priorities would be crucial to reaching global Net Zero pledges.
  • The document has urged the UN member states to transform markets for the uptake of a circular economy.
    • It includes markets for products that promote direct reuse, repair, refurbishment and remanufacturing.
    • Sustainable public procurement is essential for promoting sustainable consumption as well as production.
Circular Economy
  • A circular economy recognizes that economic activities are embedded in an ecological life-support system.
  • It provides incentives for reusing products rather than discarding them. In a circular economy, waste generation is minimal and the goods of today become the resources of tomorrow.
The need for Effective Governance
  • The document underscored the need for effective governance for a transition to a circular economy.
  • It recognized and asked nations to strengthen policies, legal and regulatory frameworks at local, national and regional levels.
  • The Indian government claimed the country has been actively formulating policies and promoting projects to drive the country towards a circular economy.
    • Policies to drive the country towards a circular economy include the Plastic Waste Management Rules, e-Waste Management Rules, Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules and the Metals Recycling Policy.
    • The Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a critical policy mechanism for advancing the circular economy.
      • It promotes the principle of “polluter pays” by holding the producer accountable for the entire lifecycle of the product.
      • The draft EPR policy was released for management of plastic waste in India in 2021 by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Significance of transition to a Circular Economy 
  • The transition to renewable energy can address 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but to achieve the UN climate goals, it is important to focus on tackling the remaining 45%.
  • We can address the 45% of global greenhouse gas emissions by changing the way we make and use products.
Generation of Electronic waste & Circular Economy 
  • The generation of electronic waste is a rapidly growing problem, total global e-waste generation in 2022 is projected to grow 60 million metric tonnes. Most of this e-waste would continue to end up in landfills in the absence of a circular economy.
  • The harmful metals would pollute the environment instead of being reused and also more of earth would be mined for these materials.
  • Only 17% of the 53.6 million metric tonnes of waste generated was collected and recycled globally in 2019.
  • As per a UN study global e-waste is surging at the rate of 21% every five years.
  • E-waste can leach out toxic and hazardous substances like dioxins and mercury. More than half of the global e-waste is made up of equipment that can be repaired and reused.
  • Right to repair law is an important tool to help in solving the issue of e-waste.
  • Right to repair is currently a movement that calls for governments to formulate policies allowing consumers to repair electronic products on their own.
  • The companies need to design a product in a suitable way and provide instructions for making repair possible. Also consumers should have this right embedded in the purchase process.
  • The right to repair is a step towards achieving UN SDGs, especially goal 12 on responsible consumption and production.
Proposals in Union Budget 2022-23
  • The Union Budget 2022-23 talks of shifting to a circular economy.
  • ₹2000 crore has been allocated to incentivize the production of high-efficiency solar modules, it would facilitate the 280 GW installed solar capacity goal of the government.
  • Setting up business models for energy conservation and the use of biomass pellets and thermal power plants has been promoted in the budget.
  • The budget underlines that transition to a circular economy is expected to improve productivity and create new jobs. It is true for many sectors including the electronics manufacturing industry.


POSTED ON 02-03-2022 BY ADMIN
Next previous