The climate crisis is a justice issue. When we understand this, it becomes clear that the true path to a sustainable future is rooted in social justice. The circular economy is a model that tethers the idea of mitigation to on-the-ground action and activities with measurable change. When we reduce consumption, waste, emissions and support affected regions and communities, we are securing a just, green future for all. MedWaves is commited to build trust, growing from what we know, and supporting programming in the Mediterranean region that nurtures eco-entrepreneurs and SMEs, adopting circular models that create social and ecological value.

Understanding the Challenges 

Climate change is undeniably complex. There is no other way to go about it. Complexities exist from calculating and understanding emissions and their impacts on human and environmental health to the multilateral environmental processes established to address the challenge presented, and of course navigating negotiations for advocating policy actions. Yet, despite these layers of complexities, the simple truth is that how we behave matters. Addressing sustainable consumption and production (SCP) drives deep into the heart of climate change complexities. The circular economy is a map and model to exercise practices to bring about the change we need and want.  

“It’s not political to want to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and secure a safe climate. I think it’s very much thinking about the climate crisis as human rights crisis”  

Laura Clark, CEO, Client Earth 

What exactly is a Just Transition? 

In response to climate challenges, there is an urgent call for a just transition to a low-carbon, sustainable future. While renewable energy is essential, it’s only part of the solution. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the energy transition addresses just 55% of global emissions. To achieve a climate-positive scenario, we must radically change how we design products and services, and how we extract and use natural resources. This is where the circular economy and SCP practices come in. They not only help reduce greenhouse but call to achieve a responsible, inclusive and socially just transition, upholding key SDGs and impacts achieved with the sustainable paradigm adopted so far.  

What exactly is a just transition? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report defines a just transition as: “A set of principles, processes and practices that aim to ensure that no people, workers, places, sectors, countries or regions are left behind in the transition from a high-carbon to a low-carbon economy.” Regardless of where you live, what gender you are or how much money you have, every human has the right to a clean and healthy environment. According to UNDP, “Climate justice means putting equity and human rights at the core of decision-making and action on climate change.” A just transition is critically important to achieving social and environmental justice as well as success in shifting the planet towards a sustainable future, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

MedWaves actively supports a just transition to a sustainable future by facing global challenges in the Mediterranean region. Maintaining a focus on promoting and enhancing eco-innovative sustainable business models, MedWaves establishes enabling environments for green, circular, zero-waste, low-carbon, and non-toxic economies to grow and flourish. When we act together, we change together. The transitions we seek and support create opportunities for all.  

Just Transition with Circular Economies 

The next Climate COP is just over six months away. Countries are preparing their Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, which are national climate action plans under the Paris Agreement. These plans are critical in mapping a way to ensure that global warming stays under the 1.5°C and demonstrate actions to match ambition. This is what is happening. 

The just transition is how these plans need to happen. While there are many ways to support the just transition, the circular economic model delivers accessible action. In the MedWaves Working Paper on the contribution of Circular Economy to Climate Action, sustainable business models are highlighted for their innovation, not only to generate economic value but also to foster environmental and social benefits. Once we recognise that the way we produce and consume is largely responsible for carbon emissions (key contributors to emissions include energy consumption (74.7%), agriculture (15.3%), industry (6.6%), and waste (3.5%)), it becomes possible to leverage these sectors for significant transition. “Addressing emissions tied to product production and use, especially in affluent nations, remains imperative, accounting for a significant 45% of global emissions.”   

The circular economy is a systemic approach that is completely aligned with climate mitigation efforts. The underpinnings of a circular model focus on optimised product use, longevity, local sourcing and recycling to curtail emissions and reduce environmental strain. The full scope of how circular economies benefit a climate neutral pathway has yet to be discovered. Of the key findings in the paper, it was clear that a successful transition requires clear and robust policies. In order for the circular economy to provide its potential value to address climate change, there is a need for legal frameworks that can help shape and support the circular economic principles.  

The EU-funded JUST2CE project has worked to specifically promote a global transition to a circular economy by supporting a more democratic and participatory mechanism of governance over the productive processes that underpin design and management of technologies. Creating and sustaining businesses that do not harm people or the planet demands justice. Linear economic models have long externalized environmental costs—contributing to global inequalities. Escalating demands for materials and energy have breached ecological limits, risking irreversible environmental damage (Rockström et al., 2009). These feedback loops deepen social and economic disparities, particularly in already-vulnerable regions. 

The circular economy offers a way to reverse this course. By embedding Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), it promotes public engagement, anticipation, reflexivity, and justice—including gender inclusion and global equity. New circular business models strive to co-create economic, social, and ecological value. 

A truly successful circular economy is fair with inclusive leadership, supported with effective policies that support sustainable design and technology for all.  

Climate justice is gender justice 

Photo: UN Climate Change – Habib Samadov

In 2023, JUST2CE published the essential document: GENDER JUSTICE AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY. The research presented takes a Feminist Ecological Economics (FEE) perspective, and defines a gender-just Circular Economy (CE). The key findings are important aspects to be continued in current considerations of working with circular economies to achieve climate justice (Martinez Álverez and Barca, 2023). It is critical to realize that circular economies are also shaped by gender and have the potential to promote gender justice: How could the circular economy address the under representation or devaluation of reproductive work? 

While the concept of the Circular Economy (CE) continues to gain significant political traction as a potential solution to the economy-environment tradeoff, there is concern that the circular economy may not adequately address the root causes or consequences of environmental degradation, potentially limiting its effectiveness. This video highlights key elements of the Just Transition framework through the personal stories of those at the forefront of such transformative change.  

Continuing the Conversation on the Ground

How do we, as individuals, communities and even regions, achieve the change we know is needed for a sustainable tomorrow? The circular economic model is an important element to empower businesses to not simply be part of the just transition, but to lead, co-creating social, ecological and economic value!  

Integrating just transition principles into current industrial and policy contexts is challenging, especially where justice principles are not yet mainstreamed. Embedding a Mediterranean perspective, avoiding a “deterritorialised approach” (Wuyts and Marin, 2022), helps localizing the discourse of a just transition to circular economy, with an inclusive and recognitional point of view, placing at the center of such new economic model communities, citizens and entrepreneurs who have traditionally been marginalized from the social and economic innovation scenarios.  

The SwitchMed Connect podcast series reflects on a decade of transformative experiences with the SwitchMed Programme. The series is devoted to exploring the experience of sustaining circular economies in the Southern Mediterranean, connecting with experts on the ground throughout the region to learn how we can translate the much-needed transition to a circular economy in actual tangible steps and stories.  

Episode 1 explores the role of green entrepreneurs as key to the just transition, especially in a region where Small to Medium sized Enterprises are approximately 90% of GDP. Maya Karkour, who recently launched the Circular Hub and Taieb Nemissi, Green Entrepreneur supported by SwitchMed, Founder of AlgaePool speak about the concepts of a circular economy and ways to apply these to business. Watch or listen to the full episode! 

Episode 2 focuses on the key to unlock the potential of a circular economy: impact investing and sustainable finance. A conversation with Daniel Sorrosal, the Secretary General at FEBEA – European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers and Michelle Mouracade, formerly Alfanar’s Country Director for Lebanon now the Head of Investor Relations, Impact and Operations for Anara Impact Capital, explores what needs to happen to properly fund and support entrepreneurs for a circular economy. Watch or listen to the full episode! 

Episode 3 moves into the relationship between policy and business, unpacking how the public and private sectors can work together to bring about the transition to a low-carbon, just and circular economy. The conversation engages Antoine Karam, Middle East Coordinator and Lebanon Country Director for Swisscontact and David Smith, President of the non-profit consulting company, Water, Environment and Beyond. Watch or listen to the full episode! 

Sustainable and circular economies in the Mediterranean region require a focus on the blue economy. Episode 4 turns the focus to explore how it could be possible to channel the principles of circular economy to issues relevant to ocean and coastal areas with Alessandra Sensi, Head of Sector, Environment, Green and Blue Economy at Union for the Mediterranean and Benoit Wuatelet, Team leader of UNIDO SwitchMed. Watch or listen to the full episode! 

Episode 5 invites guests Nada Sabra, a senior environmental expert who has been working with UNIDO in developing the Lebanese industry for 14 years and Ayman Elzahaby, a technical expert at UNIDO, specialising in Circular Economy, Resource Efficiency and Energy Management for industry to discuss examples from the southern Mediterranean region of a green and circular economy. Watch or listen to the full episode! 

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