Circular and Transformative Economy
The increasing complexities with today’s interlinked challenges related to resource insecurities, the emergence of novel infectious diseases, socio‑economic decline and environmental degradation require systemic approaches that address trade‑offs, enhance synergies, minimise resource depletion, and promote waste reduction while operating within the planetary boundaries (Kimani‑Murage et al., 2021; Menton et al., 2020; Naidoo et al., 2021a). Today’s age, which is dubbed the 4th Industrial Revolution, depends on sophisticated, cross‑cutting, cross‑sectoral, and interconnected systems to conveniently deliver goods and services (Nhamo and Ndlela, 2021). Although this globalisation has come with considerable technological advances and opportunities for development, it has also exposed the globe and its systems to severe disruptions and shocks, as demonstrated by climate change and pandemics which often cause disruptions in global supply chains (Magableh, 2021; Shang et al., 2021). As in any complex system, tensions always manifest between efficiency and resilience, the ability to anticipate, absorb, recover, and adapt to unexpected disruptions (Nhamo and Ndlela, 2021). These tensions indicate the connectedness between the attributes of a system, and therefore, addressing the tensions individually is bound to exacerbate existing challenges. Therefore, sector‑based or system‑specific resilience interventions are often accompanied by systemic risks resulting from initiatives that lead to suboptimal efficiencies in one sector at the expense of others (Nhamo and Ndlela, 2021). Cross‑sectoral challenges require cross‑sectoral interventions to realise integrated and multi‑centric solutions (Naidoo et al., 2021b). Therefore, transformative approaches are cross‑sectoral and polycentric decision support tools capable of systematically and holistically addressing cross‑sectoral challenges. This is enhanced by promoting the reuse and recycling of resources, ensuring that resources stay in use for longer periods, thus mitigating resource depletion and reducing environmental waste (Mastos et al., 2021). Therefore, transformative approaches promote circularity and contribute towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 12 (responsible consumption and production) and the other interlinked goals. Transformative approaches, including the circular economy, nexus planning, just transition, one health, scenario planning, strategic foresight, horizon scanning, and sustainable food systems, emphasise cross‑sectoral interventions and enhance socio‑economic resilience against current challenges and future shocks (Batisha, 2022). They are considered pathways towards sustainable development and are envisioned to guide the transformational change agenda by promoting resource use efficiency and addressing current cross‑sectoral challenges in an integrated manner (Nhamo et al., 2021). Thus, transformative approaches are polycentric as they comprise multiple decision‑making centres where each centre has substantive autonomy and is also located at varying levels (Nhamo et al., 2020; Thiel, 2017). Polycentric denotes many centres of decision‑making which are formally independent of each other yet rely on each other and hence are circular and cross‑sectoral (Patala et al., 2022; Thiel, 2017). Therefore, the existing interlinked, cross‑sectoral, and interconnected challenges suggest an urgent need to transition from the current linear system to polycentric, cross‑sectoral, integrated, and circular systems, as global and local systems now resemble stress and are over‑stretched. A key attribute of transformative approaches is that they focus on the positive interlinkages that envision creating synergies and aim to transform the socio‑ ecological and economic system instead of addressing single issues. This book, therefore, highlights the benefits of transformative approaches in integrating, simplifying, and facilitating the understanding of complex systems and promoting the transformation towards greater sustainability while achieving multiple social, economic, and environmental outcomes. This forms the basis for sustainable development, and sound human and environmental health outcomes, as circularity promotes resilience and informs policy on proactive interventions during a crisis or a shock. The premise is to provide policy‑ and decision‑makers with a practical handbook on circular models for sustainable resource management. This book provides pathways towards strategic policy decisions on socio‑economic transformation. Through evidence and case studies, the overarching goal is to highlight how circular and transformative approaches can enhance sustainable socio‑economic transformation.
source :
