Transitional Pathways towards Achieving a Circular Economy in the Water, Energy, and Food Sectors
Achieving sustainable socio-economic development requires approaches that enhance resource use efficiencies and can address current cross-sectoral challenges in an integrated manner. Existing evidence suggests an urgent need for polycentric and transformative approaches, as global and local systems...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-09-01
|
Series: | Sustainability |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/17/9978 |
id |
doaj-3023a5fca7a54a5c837bfb3bfbe518d5 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-3023a5fca7a54a5c837bfb3bfbe518d52021-09-09T13:59:13ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502021-09-01139978997810.3390/su13179978Transitional Pathways towards Achieving a Circular Economy in the Water, Energy, and Food SectorsDhesigen Naidoo0Luxon Nhamo1Shenelle Lottering2Sylvester Mpandeli3Stanley Liphadzi4Albert T. Modi5Cristina Trois6Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi7Water Research Commission of South Africa (WRC), Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0084, South AfricaWater Research Commission of South Africa (WRC), Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0084, South AfricaCentre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems (CTAFS), School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaWater Research Commission of South Africa (WRC), Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0084, South AfricaWater Research Commission of South Africa (WRC), Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0084, South AfricaCentre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems (CTAFS), School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaSchool of Engineering Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South AfricaCentre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems (CTAFS), School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaAchieving sustainable socio-economic development requires approaches that enhance resource use efficiencies and can address current cross-sectoral challenges in an integrated manner. Existing evidence suggests an urgent need for polycentric and transformative approaches, as global and local systems have come under strain. This study conducted a systematic literature review at the global level to assess the progress made towards achieving a circular economy between 2010 and 2020, a period covering the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the initial five years of their implementation. The focus was on the potential of improved water and energy use efficiency, linking them to food production within the context of a circular economy. Identifying successes, opportunities, challenges, and pathways towards a circular economy from the literature review facilitated developing a conceptual framework to guide strategic policy formulations towards a more sustainable economy. A combination of transformative approaches is analysed in an integrated way in response to the 2030 global agenda on sustainable development. Thus, the study is informed by the initiatives to attain SDGs and mitigating negative environmental impacts due to waste and pollution. The premise is to enhance transformational change as a catalyst for employment creation and the attainment of a green economy while reducing waste. Transformative approaches have been identified to provide pathways towards global climate targets and protection of the environment from further degradation. They are a catalyst to achieve SDG 12 on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/17/9978linear modelscleaner productionsustainabilityresource use efficiencyadaptationwaste reduction |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Dhesigen Naidoo Luxon Nhamo Shenelle Lottering Sylvester Mpandeli Stanley Liphadzi Albert T. Modi Cristina Trois Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi |
spellingShingle |
Dhesigen Naidoo Luxon Nhamo Shenelle Lottering Sylvester Mpandeli Stanley Liphadzi Albert T. Modi Cristina Trois Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi Transitional Pathways towards Achieving a Circular Economy in the Water, Energy, and Food Sectors Sustainability linear models cleaner production sustainability resource use efficiency adaptation waste reduction |
author_facet |
Dhesigen Naidoo Luxon Nhamo Shenelle Lottering Sylvester Mpandeli Stanley Liphadzi Albert T. Modi Cristina Trois Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi |
author_sort |
Dhesigen Naidoo |
title |
Transitional Pathways towards Achieving a Circular Economy in the Water, Energy, and Food Sectors |
title_short |
Transitional Pathways towards Achieving a Circular Economy in the Water, Energy, and Food Sectors |
title_full |
Transitional Pathways towards Achieving a Circular Economy in the Water, Energy, and Food Sectors |
title_fullStr |
Transitional Pathways towards Achieving a Circular Economy in the Water, Energy, and Food Sectors |
title_full_unstemmed |
Transitional Pathways towards Achieving a Circular Economy in the Water, Energy, and Food Sectors |
title_sort |
transitional pathways towards achieving a circular economy in the water, energy, and food sectors |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2021-09-01 |
description |
Achieving sustainable socio-economic development requires approaches that enhance resource use efficiencies and can address current cross-sectoral challenges in an integrated manner. Existing evidence suggests an urgent need for polycentric and transformative approaches, as global and local systems have come under strain. This study conducted a systematic literature review at the global level to assess the progress made towards achieving a circular economy between 2010 and 2020, a period covering the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the initial five years of their implementation. The focus was on the potential of improved water and energy use efficiency, linking them to food production within the context of a circular economy. Identifying successes, opportunities, challenges, and pathways towards a circular economy from the literature review facilitated developing a conceptual framework to guide strategic policy formulations towards a more sustainable economy. A combination of transformative approaches is analysed in an integrated way in response to the 2030 global agenda on sustainable development. Thus, the study is informed by the initiatives to attain SDGs and mitigating negative environmental impacts due to waste and pollution. The premise is to enhance transformational change as a catalyst for employment creation and the attainment of a green economy while reducing waste. Transformative approaches have been identified to provide pathways towards global climate targets and protection of the environment from further degradation. They are a catalyst to achieve SDG 12 on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. |
topic |
linear models cleaner production sustainability resource use efficiency adaptation waste reduction |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/17/9978 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT dhesigennaidoo transitionalpathwaystowardsachievingacirculareconomyinthewaterenergyandfoodsectors AT luxonnhamo transitionalpathwaystowardsachievingacirculareconomyinthewaterenergyandfoodsectors AT shenellelottering transitionalpathwaystowardsachievingacirculareconomyinthewaterenergyandfoodsectors AT sylvestermpandeli transitionalpathwaystowardsachievingacirculareconomyinthewaterenergyandfoodsectors AT stanleyliphadzi transitionalpathwaystowardsachievingacirculareconomyinthewaterenergyandfoodsectors AT alberttmodi transitionalpathwaystowardsachievingacirculareconomyinthewaterenergyandfoodsectors AT cristinatrois transitionalpathwaystowardsachievingacirculareconomyinthewaterenergyandfoodsectors AT tafadzwanashemabhaudhi transitionalpathwaystowardsachievingacirculareconomyinthewaterenergyandfoodsectors |
_version_ |
1717759084593152000 |