CE Metrics Stakeholder Meeting

How to measure circular economy and its benefits meaningfully and effectively?

In the lead up to the WCEF+Climate conference in April 2021, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management together with PACE, the Platform for Accelerating Circular Economy, held a virtual CE Metrics Stakeholder Meeting. The meeting was attended by more than 40 leading stakeholders from the public and private sector and involved in leading domestic and international CE metrics efforts. 

The transition towards a circular economy offers great opportunities to reach climate goals in line with the Paris Agreement. To assess what interventions are successful however, CE metrics and monitoring are key, and as such will be one of the themes of the conference.

 In line with that, the key questions of the meeting were: why is monitoring and metrics important and what needs to happen in this field? Are the key gaps valid, are there any missing and what gaps should receive high priority? What initiatives already exist that contribute to filling these gaps?

PACE consultant Renilde Becqué presented the preliminary findings of the CE metrics landscaping research, presenting the following list of key high-level CE metrics gaps:

1.       No consensus on definition and taxonomy of CE

2.       No common framework for measuring CE

3.       Insufficient exchange between developers of CE indicators

4.       Lack of harmonization and standardization

5.       Limitations in CE indicator coverage

6.       Challenges in data gathering and availability

7.       Insufficient linkages between CE indicator across socio-economic levels

Breakout sessions dived into the findings of the research and focused on the gaps and risks analysis.

In his closing words, David McGinty, Global Director, PACE, laid down the concrete next steps for 2021. The first is to finalize the CE metrics landscaping paper incorporating participants feedback and its launch at the conference. Expert session will be organized for the public sector to move from gaps into solutions mode and prioritized action through the proposed Circular Economy Indicators Coalition will be coordinated to help turn proposed solutions into reality. At the WCEF Canada conference in September the stakeholders will assess progress towards these prioritized gaps and actions.

In April 2021 the new report on circular indicators for governments was published by PACE. Circular Change was proud to co-shape the contents of the report. To create a circular economy, we need a common language and a common way of measuring our progress. PACE new report sets out the current state of play on how governments are approaching metrics for the circular economy. Read the full report here.