The recent COP21 climate change talks in Paris have concluded with an agreement on the key principle of keeping “global temperature increase to well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C”.
While the aspiration on limiting global temperatures must be applauded, we have a long way to catch up following both the Rio and Copenhagen Summit failures. With no binding legislation or measures it’s difficult to see how this target can be achieved and the dichotomy is that we must not even contemplate failure.
Moving towards a circular economy
The reality is that to achieve anything meaningful much of our locked up carbon has to remain in the ground and that means moving towards a circular economy as fast as we possibly can – is it coincidence that the European Commission released its Circular Economy package days before the Paris talks?
I believe that the role of a Producer Compliance Scheme in developing business partnerships or integrated sectoral approaches to resource and energy use could be pivotal – and with the European Commision estimating carbon savings of 450 million tonnes through the circular economy it’s an opportunity that’s literally too good to waste.
Robbie Staniforth
Head of policy
Having gained a wealth of experience in regulatory affairs, waste issues and secondary commodity market analysis, Robbie uses his skills internally as an operational board member and externally to influence legislation change as head of policy. He is responsible for liaising with government, regulators and industry organisations to articulate complex views and interests and to provide high-level policy expertise, industry insight and market analysis to our members.
Useful links
Last year textiles were identified as a priority for future EPR, here we look at the wider issues and how it could be implemented.
Read More >>Following HM Treasury’s call for evidence on single-use plastics earlier this year, the Chancellor yesterday announced plans for a new tax on plastic packaging which contains less than 30% recycled plastic, subject to consultation.
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