Implementing the Circular Economy in the European Union and Spain: Links to the Low-Carbon Transition

Maria del P. Pablo-Romero (), Antonio Sánchez-Braza and Cristóbal Torreblanca
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Maria del P. Pablo-Romero: Department of Economic Analysis and Political Economy, Universidad de Sevilla, 41018 Sevilla, Spain
Antonio Sánchez-Braza: Department of Economic Analysis and Political Economy, Universidad de Sevilla, 41018 Sevilla, Spain
Cristóbal Torreblanca: Department of Economic Analysis and Political Economy, Universidad de Sevilla, 41018 Sevilla, Spain

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-24

Abstract: This paper reviews and analyzes the process of the implementation of the circular economy in the European Union (EU) and Spain, and its links to the low-carbon transition. The EU implementation of the circular economy went through several stages. Since the adoption of the first action plan in 1993, the links between the circular economy and carbon transition goals have become intertwined. Recently, the EU approved the framework of new monitoring measures and indicators for the circular economy. The adopted actions have involved the adaptation of European legislation at the national level. Spain has participated in this process since 2017, when the Circular Economy Pact was signed. The subsequent approval of the Spanish Strategy for a Circular Economy in 2020 was developed, considering a close relationship between decarbonization and the circular economy. Lately, the circular economy implementation has been strengthened with the strategic project for economic recovery and transformation, linked to the recovery of COVID-19, and the roadmap for the sustainable management of mineral raw materials, with both documents including actions directly related to transforming the energy system. Data show that Spain has made significant improvements in the circular economy transition. However, Spain’s vulnerability to externalities is greater than that of the EU as a whole.

Keywords: circular economy; Spain; European Union; policy and data evolution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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