Innovation for Climate and Circularity - Business Models and Governance

Abstract:

The transition towards a carbon-neutral society is essential. In the last years we have seen obvious changes in climate with e.g. major forest fires in Australia, unusual heatwaves in Europe, and so on. The window we have to realise a world where warming is limited to 1.5-2 oC is rapidly closing and major mitigation efforts are required to realise net zero emissions by 2050. Obvious elements of this transition are a change to a carbon-neutral energy system, transport based on electric vehicles, low-meat diets, and reducing drastically energy end-use for homes, appliances, etc. This energy transition has to go hand in hand with a circularity transition – Asia’s expanding infrastructure has made it the globe’s main material consumer, while this material production and -use is responsible for 20-25% of all energy use and carbon emissions (40-50% if food is included). To achieve a climate-neutral, circular economy, next to technical…