"ESPAÑA CIRCULAR 2030 - Estrategia Española de Economía Circular" was released by the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, aiming to promote the transformation of Spain towards a circular economy and achieve sustainable development. This strategy analyzes the current situation and challenges, sets goals, action plans, and policies, and constructs an organizational management and supervision - evaluation system.
1. Background of the Circular Economy Transformation
Global Challenges:
The linear economic model has triggered numerous environmental problems, such as resource depletion, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Meanwhile, global population growth, urbanization, and fluctuations in raw material prices have intensified the contradiction between resource supply and demand, making it urgent to transform the economic model.
International and European Context:
International initiatives like the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provide a framework for the development of the circular economy. The European Union has developed the Circular Economy Action Plan, the European Green Deal, etc., promoting member states to transform towards a circular economy. It also offers opportunities for Spain in terms of research, innovation, and financial support.
Current Situation in Spain:
The Spanish economy plays an important role in the EU. However, the ecological footprint indicates that its resource utilization is unsustainable, with the per capita ecological footprint exceeding the biocapacity. Moreover, the waste recycling rate is similar to the EU average, resulting in serious resource waste. In addition, various industries have different degrees of problems in circular economy development. For example, the construction industry needs to improve productivity, and the agricultural industry has low resource utilization efficiency.
2. Goals and Actions
Principles, Strategic Directions, and Goals:
Following principles such as environmental protection and improvement, preventive action, and economic decarbonization, ten strategic directions have been developed, covering aspects such as environmental protection, product life - cycle management, and waste management. Specific quantitative goals for 2030 have been set, such as reducing material consumption, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions, and improving water use efficiency.
Strategies and Action Plans towards a Circular Economy:
The implementation of the strategy is promoted through a series of three - year action plans, focusing on key areas such as production, consumption, waste management, secondary raw materials, and water reuse and purification. At the same time, citizen awareness - raising, research and innovation, employment, and training are regarded as horizontal action lines to achieve the transformation to a circular economy.
Priority Sectors for Action:
Special planning and tracking are carried out for key sectors such as construction, agro - food, industry, consumer goods, tourism, and textiles and clothing. For example, the construction industry needs to improve resource utilization efficiency and reduce waste; the agro - food industry should reduce food waste and optimize resource utilization; the industry should promote digital transformation and apply circular economy practices; the consumer goods industry needs to standardize product standards and extend product life; the tourism industry has to address resource consumption and waste management issues; and the textiles and clothing industry should reduce environmental impacts and strengthen recycling.
3. Policies to Drive Change
Economic Policy:
Economic means are used to guide production, consumption, and waste management towards a sustainable direction. For example, EU sustainable finance regulations, environmental standard setting in public procurement and fiscal budgets, etc., promote the development of the circular economy.
Fiscal Policy:
Tax policies are used to encourage rational resource utilization and waste treatment. For example, taxes are imposed on low - level waste management methods, and the tax revenue is used to support priority circular economy measures. At the same time, the fragmentation of the current tax policy is addressed.
Employment and Training Policy:
Through vocational training, information dissemination, and safety standard adjustment, workers are helped to adapt to the circular economy transformation to ensure a fair transition. Relevant measures can be integrated into existing policy tools.
Research and Innovation Policy:
Promote public research funding, public - private cooperation, and enterprise R & D investment. Use public procurement of innovation tools and promote innovation through tax incentives, especially focusing on the eco - innovation of small and medium - sized enterprises.
Consumption Policy:
Ensure consumers' right to know, strengthen education and publicity, and encourage consumers to change their consumption behavior. For example, consumers are encouraged to consider sustainability standards, reduce waste, and correctly classify waste. At the same time, enterprises and social organizations are encouraged to participate.
Industrial Policy:
Incorporate the concept of the circular economy into industrial strategies, strengthen public - private cooperation, promote eco - design and resource recycling, improve industrial competitiveness, and regulate market access to ensure that products meet environmental and health standards.
Agro - Food and Rural Development Policy:
Promote the ecological transformation of agriculture and the sustainable development of rural areas through sustainable resource utilization, waste prevention, and management. For example, support ecological agriculture and reduce food waste.
Water Policy:
Promote the National Water Purification Plan, facilitate technological innovation and transfer, encourage the consumption of tap water, reduce the use of plastic bottles, study the impact of microplastics, and establish a water accounting method.
4. Strategic Organizational Model
Interministerial Circular Economy Commission:
Composed of relevant ministries, it is responsible for evaluating, proposing, and monitoring circular economy policies and action plans. It can establish working groups and has an executive committee to coordinate the implementation of the strategy.
Circular Economy Working Group of the Waste Coordination Commission:
Its members include representatives from various government departments, autonomous communities, and local governments. It is responsible for analyzing the transformation situation, identifying obstacles, coordinating actions, and sharing experiences.
Circular Economy Council:
Bringing together all sectors of society, including social institutions, enterprises, consumers, and research institutions, etc., to jointly promote the implementation of the strategy. Waste monitoring institutions are established to provide a basis for decision - making.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms
Monitoring Framework:
Based on the relevant EU framework and combined with the actual situation in Spain, a monitoring and evaluation mechanism is set up. Indicators in areas such as production and consumption, waste management, secondary raw materials, competitiveness, and innovation are selected to assess the progress of circular economy development.
Indicator System:
It covers indicators such as self - sufficiency in raw materials, ecological public procurement, waste generation, food waste, recycling rate, and the contribution of secondary raw materials to the market. It comprehensively reflects the development of the circular economy, and the contribution of the waste sector to greenhouse gas emissions is also taken into account.
Evaluation Arrangements:
The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge evaluates the strategy and action plans every three years. The evaluation results are used to guide the revision and improvement of subsequent plans.
6. Regional Circular Economy Actions:
The autonomous communities in Spain actively respond to the national circular economy strategy. Some have approved relevant strategies or regulations, and some are in the process of formulation, promoting the implementation of the circular economy at the local level.