The City of Helsinki has joined forces with other European cities to support and act on the transition to a circular economy and signed the European Circular Cities Declaration. The Declaration was launched on 1 October at the 9th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns.
Other initial European signatory cities include, for example Norwegian capital Oslo, Czech Republic capital Prague, capital of Denmark Copenhagen, the city of Malmö in Sweden, Slovenian capital Ljubljana, Seville in Spain and Albanian capital Tirana. From Finland, the cities of Tampere, Turku, Oulu and Lappeenranta are also among the first signatories. Negotiations with many other European cities are ongoing.
Cities and regions signing the declaration are committed to act as ambassadors and champion a circular economy that leads to a resource-efficient, low-carbon and socially responsible society, in which resource consumption is decoupled from economic growth. Circular economy means using natural resources sparingly, seeing waste as a valuable resource and moving away from consumption and ownership through services and digitalisation.
“Helsinki is ready and willing to promote circular economy. Our declaration includes crucial fields for cities, such as construction work. Cooperation is essential in leading the transition: Helsinki is willing to learn more from other cities and also to share our own experiences”, says Deputy Mayor for Urban Environment Anni Sinnemäki, who spoke at the launch event of the declaration.
Cities are ideally placed to foster a circular economy and lead the way towards a more sustainable, resilient future. The European Circular Cities Declaration provides a common, shared vision of a circular city that helps ensure cities act as a joined force on the road to circularity.
The Declaration was launched on 1 October at the 9th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns, hosted by the German city of Mannheim online. Helsinki, along with other launching signatories, invites cities and regions from across Europe to join in and sign the Declaration.
The Declaration has been developed by a broad group of European organisations committed to enabling the transition to a circular economy at the local level, including ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Circular Flanders, CSCP, ECERA, the European Investment Bank (EIB), Ellen McArthur Foundation, Eurocities, LWARB, UN Environment Programme and the WCYCLE Institute.
Earlier this year Helsinki has published a Roadmap for Circular and Sharing Economy, in which actions are defined for a move towards circular economy in construction, procurements, green waste and sharing economy. Read more about the roadmap in a 31 May news article.
City of Helsinki Roadmap for Circular and Sharing Economy
For more information about the Declaration, visit: www.circularcitiesdeclaration.eu