Insularity is considered to be a permanent and unchangeable geographical feature which involves additional costs (transport, energy, waste management, public services, necessity goods and services) that hamper the development and competitiveness of the islands, while particularly exposing them to biodiversity loss and climate change. The organised civil society has an important role to play and tackle all these challenges and through this debate. The aim is to find the best practices and solutions so that EU islands can preform better and recover from the multiple crises.
Cirkulær økonomi
Omstillingen til en cirkulær økonomi står højt på EØSU's dagsorden som en løsning på, hvordan klimakrisen kan bekæmpes, og vores planet beskyttes. For civilsamfundet er det en stor mulighed, da det kan bidrage til at:
- øge det europæiske erhvervslivs konkurrenceevne
- fremme bæredygtig økonomisk vækst
- skabe nye jobs.
Den "take-make-waste"-model for produktion og forbrug, der stadig præger vores økonomi i dag, resulterer ikke blot i, at ressourcer spildes, men undergraver også kampen mod klimaændringerne. Modsat den lineære økonomi er en cirkulær økonomi en regenererende og genoprettende model med fokus på at skabe og fastholde økonomisk værdi, tackle globale udfordringer som klimaændringer, tab af biodiversitet og forurening og samtidig skabe et økonomisk udbytte.
Den gode nyhed er, at den cirkulære omstilling allerede er i gang i praksis. Civilsamfundsinteressenter, herunder virksomheder, fagforeninger, den akademiske verden og vidensamfund, ungdomsorganisationer, NGO'er og andre interessegrupper, er i gang med at udvikle og gennemføre mange cirkulære initiativer på lokalt og regionalt niveau. Udnyttelse af cirkulære løsninger og lederskab fra relevante interessenter er Europas bedste mulighed for at fremskynde omstillingen til en cirkulær økonomi.
Den europæiske interessentplatform for cirkulær økonomi er et sådant eksempel. Det er et fælles initiativ, der blev etableret af EØSU og Kommissionen i 2017 for at bringe interessenter inden for den cirkulære økonomi i Europa sammen. Den interessentdrevne platform støtter Europas omstilling til en cirkulær økonomi gennem fremme af dialog, videndeling og udveksling af bedste praksis.
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The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will be producing an own-initiative opinion on the main challenges faced by EU islands and mountainous and sparsely populated areas, which is scheduled for adoption at the EESC's September plenary session. In this context, the EESC, along with the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and the North Sweden European Office (NSEO), will be holding a public hearing in Umeå (Sweden) on 4 May 2023 entitled "Challenges and opportunities that the digital and energy transitions present to the northern sparsely populated areas and islands. How can these regions become drivers for growth and development?". The hearing is an event under the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
With this debate, the ECO section is providing ex-ante input to the European Commission, in preparation for the upcoming 2023 strategic foresight cycle that wants to shed light on the strategic decisions needed to ensure a socially and economically sustainable Europe with a stronger role in the world in the coming decades.
On 27 and 28 February 2023, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European Commission will host the 2023 European Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference in hybrid mode. The sixth Conference will bring together Europe's biggest circular economy stakeholders to focus on the role of the circular economy in driving sustainable recovery, open strategic autonomy and resilience.
This interactive conference with experts in circular economy competences and youth, policy-makers, academics and business representatives will explore the outputs from the CESCY project.
On 1 and 2 March 2022, this annual conference will bring together Europe's largest network of stakeholders in the Circular Economy. The focus this year is on the path to a new normal: "sustainable products for sustainable consumption."
The conference will explore the role of European Civil Society in using digitalization in a way that it enables and drives sustainability to support the European Green Deal and the EU sustainable recovery.
The annual Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference, jointly organised by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee, is an opportunity for stakeholders to meet, nurture their networks, share ideas and learn about the new EU policy developments on circular economy. The 2020 edition will be digital with a focus on renewal as we emerge from the COVID pandemic.
The world is facing a climate emergency causing unprecedented economic, social and environmental challenges. Ambitious policy and action are necessary at all levels to accelerate a just transition to a sustainable future, while leaving no one behind. This is particularly relevant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed the fragility of the current system. ► Watch again
As in previous years, the EESC was present at the High Level Political Forum (HLPF), from Tuesday, 16 July, to Thursday, 18 July 2019. The HLPF is the United Nations central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.