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The Climate Briefing: Making the global circular economy transition happen

Chatham House | 2026-05-08 | economy

Topics: Economy

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English Summary

The article argues that the current linear 'take–make–dispose' economic model is environmentally unsustainable and poses severe risks to the climate. To mitigate these impacts, a global transition to a circular economy—which prioritizes reuse, repair, and remanufacturing—is essential. This systemic shift requires moving beyond simple recycling to fundamentally redesigning resource flows. Policy implications emphasize the need for coordinated international and national policy interventions to enable this transition and embed circular principles into global economic structures.

中文摘要

本文論述當前的線性「採集–製造–丟棄」經濟模式在環境上不可持續，並對氣候構成嚴重風險。為減緩這些衝擊，全球轉型至循環經濟至關重要，該模式著重於再利用、維修和再製造。這種系統性轉變要求我們超越單純的回收，從根本上重新設計資源流動。政策意涵強調，必須有協調的國際和國家政策介入，才能促成這一轉型，並將循環原則嵌入全球經濟結構之中。

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