Application of circular economy framework for reducing the impacts of climate change: A case study from India on the evaluation of carbon and materials footprint nexus

Abstract

In light of the Paris Agreement 2015 and the emerging government-wide policies towards instigating a transition from linear to Circular Economy (CE), it has become critical to investigate the potential impact of CE strategies on climate change. The recent upsurge in economic activities and growing consumerism has driven the demand for raw materials contributing to a considerable level of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emissions in the atmosphere, conducive to severe climate breakdowns, jeopardizing the environment and biodiversity. The current study aims at establishing a detailed understanding on CE strategies vis-à-vis Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and resource-energy conflict impacting climate change to underpin the priority sectors such as agriculture and allied activities, industry, construction, electricity, and transportation; exercising the CE Regenerate Share Optimize Loop Virtualize Exchange (ReSOLVE) framework for the National Capital Region (NCR) of India. The CE strategies quantified through input-output analysis and Leontief inverse matrix, identify the construction and transportation sector as the highest contributor towards Carbon Footprint (CF) and Material Footprint (MF) ranging from 4.0–8.8 t/capita and 5.6–7.3 t/capita respectively. Integrating the ReSOLVE strategies of CE and the priority sectors linked to the nation's economy through stratified components of design, consumption and recycling can reduce CF and MF by 0.18–15.7% and 5.3–25% respectively. In low and middle-income countries, the study is envisaged to leverage decision-makers in adopting sustainable management practices as an integral part of policy interventions, facilitating solutions to both natural capital depletion and environmental degradation challenges to produce better Gross Domestic Product (GDP) outcomes.