The Role of Education in Accelerating the Transition to the Circular Economy

On 1st March 2022, the 6th Conference on Circular Economy will be held in Tbilisi to facilitate the accelerated transition to the circularity and efficient implementation of this system in Georgia.

After the five circular economy conferences that have been held during 2019-2021 for the state, regional and municipal authorities, policy makers and the Parliament, businesses and financers in the frames of the Circular Economy Programme funded by the Government of Sweden, the sixth Conference on Circular Economy is targeting the universities of Georgia and other educational entities as one of the key enablers of the transition process.

The keynote speaker of the conference will be Dr. Dariusz Edward Prasek, an International Expert in sustainable finance, environmental, social and governance areas and Circular Economy, member of the United Nations Advisory Board on Circular Economy, former Director of Operations in Environmental and Sustainability Department of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Independent Expert on Development Financing at IDB Invest, who will inform attendants about main aspects of the transition to the circular economy, how this system could be efficiently implemented and what is the specific role of the universities in this process.

This training programme has been designed through funding of the Government of Sweden to raise awareness about the circular economy among wide range of stakeholders. Its purpose is to provide recommendations to various groups of stakeholder, including policy makers, financial institutions, businesses and academia how to speed the adoption of circular economy principles at various levels of the national economy. Particular emphasis is put on recommendations such are: improving financing conditions, removing barriers for circular economy projects, identifying main areas where incentives should be provided, educating experts in variety of areas.

• The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended and waste is reduced to a minimum.

• A circular economy is a systemic approach to economic development designed to benefit businesses, society, and the environment. Circular development is a model of socially and environmentally responsible production and consumption that aims to build a sustainable society.

• The circular economy concept is gaining attention in light of increasing consumption and resource use by a fast-growing population with rising standards of living. This is a new economic model that represents sustainable progress towards efficient green growth.

• Like with any systemic change, the transition to the circular economy requires several elements of the system to change simultaneously, what requires concerted actions by a host of stakeholders. Universities and other educational entities can play an important role in creating circular businesses, as they can educate experts in a variety of areas to correctly identify, conceptualise and develop circular business models and projects that are both sound and bankable, and congruent with a long-term development vision and strategy for the transition to the circular economy. These experts can advise and improve the economic viability and bankability of projects; and visualise collaborative arrangements within the supply chain to fully embrace the circularity principles, to ensure circular business models become the best option for companies willing to gain competitive advantage and maintain their market share while aligning their goals with society’s goals.

• The circular economy is not the responsibility of a chosen few. We all have the right to participate in the creation of a sustainable future. Circular economy education is not aimed at educating special experts in the circular economy. The objective is that in the future all of us will need to have sound knowledge of circular economy principles and basics, and to know how to implement circular economy solutions in our respective areas of expertise.

The Conference on Circular Economy is organized commonly by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis” in the frames of the Circular Economy Programme financed by the Government of Sweden and implemented by GSNE “Orchis” with the support of Georgian Ministries of Environmental Protection & Agriculture, Economy and Sustainable Development, Regional Development & Infrastructure, and Education & Science.