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.
Krožno gospodarstvo
Prehod na krožno gospodarstvo je visoko na dnevnem redu EESO kot rešitev za boj proti podnebni krizi in zaščito našega planeta. Je odlična priložnost za civilno družbo, saj lahko prispeva k:
- povečanju konkurenčnosti evropske industrije,
- spodbujanju trajnostne gospodarske rasti in,
- ustvarjanju novih delovnih mest.
Model linearne proizvodnje in potrošnje, ki danes še vedno prevladuje v našem gospodarstvu, ne prispeva le k zapravljanju virov, temveč tudi spodkopava boj proti podnebnim spremembam. V nasprotju z linearnim gospodarstvom ima krožno gospodarstvo regenerativno in obnovitveno zasnovo, ki se osredotoča na ustvarjanje in ohranjanje gospodarske vrednosti, saj obravnava svetovne okoljske izzive, kot so podnebne spremembe, izguba biotske raznovrstnosti in onesnaževanje, hkrati pa prinaša gospodarske koristi.
Dobra novica je, da krožni prehod že poteka v praksi. Deležniki iz civilne družbe, med njimi podjetja, sindikati, akademski krogi in skupnosti znanja, mladinske organizacije ter nevladne organizacije in druge interesne skupine, na lokalni in regionalni ravni ustvarjajo in izvajajo številne krožne pobude. Spodbujanje krožnih rešitev in vodilna vloga ustreznih deležnikov sta najboljša načina za pospeševanje prehoda na krožno gospodarstvo v Evropi.
Evropska platforma deležnikov za krožno gospodarstvo , ki je skupna pobuda EESO in Evropske komisije, je bila vzpostavljena leta 2017, da bi z njo povezali skupnost krožnega gospodarstva v Evropi. Platforma, ki jo usmerjajo deležniki, podpira prehod Evrope na krožno gospodarstvo s spodbujanjem dialoga ter izmenjavo znanja in najboljših praks.
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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.