The document summarizes key points from an OECD survey on circular economies in cities and regions. It finds that while most cities and regions have emerging or in-progress circular economy initiatives, fully adopting circular economies requires a holistic and systemic approach across all sectors of cities. Common tools used by cities include pilots and experimentations, capacity building, sustainable public procurement, and dedicated budgets. Top priorities for cities include overcoming obstacles to transitioning and further developing circular economy plans and policies over the long term through the OECD's circular economy program.

1. THE OECD SURVEY ON
THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
IN CITIES AND REGIONS
Oriana Romano, Co-ordinator
Cities and Circular Economy Programme
OECD
1st OECD Roundtable on the
Circular Economy in Cities and Regions
4 July 2019 | 9h-18h

2. Unlocking the potential for circular
economy in cities
°C
Megatrends
• Demographic growth
• Urbanisation
• Climate change
• Economic trend
Opportunities
• Technological
• Socio-economic
• Environmental
System change
• People
• Policies
• Places
9.7 billion by 2050
By 2050
70% of the world
population
will be urban
Availability and
quality of natural
resources at risks
By 2030, 6.7 $ trillion
per year of
investment needs in
infrastructure
4.5 trillion dollars
potential for
economic
growth by 2030
50 000 jobs
in the Île-de-France
CO2 emission reduction
by 40% globally from
plastic, steel ,
aluminum, cement
Government, business,
citizens
Urban, rural
Water, energy, waste,
building, food
Source: OECD ( 2018), The Economics and
Governance of Circular Economy in Cities: a project
proposal.

3. The OECD Programme on the
circular economy in cities and regions
1.
Sharing
2.
Learning
3.
Measuring
Source: OECD ( 2018), The Economics and Governance of Circular Economy in Cities: a project proposal.
• Indicators
• Scoreboard
• Self-assessment
• Policy Dialogues
• Recommendations
• Action plan
• Survey
• Peer-to-peer exchanges

4. Survey: taking stock of “Going circular”
 31 cities, 3 regions
 26 from Europe, 5 from America, 2 from Oceania and 1 from Asia.
 Level of advancement to circular economy:
o 53% emerging
o 32% in progress
o 12 % advanced
o 3% Not in place

5. Why going circular?
To rethink production and consumption patterns
To improve environmental quality
To create new business models

6. What do cities and regions do?
• 15 out of 34 regions or cities
have a circular economy
initiative
• Circular economy implies a
holistic and systemic approach
• All sectors are concerned, but
some have high potential
• City managers on Circular
Economy are flourishing
• New business models are
required

7. How? Tools and practices
76% Pilots & experimentation
56% Capacity building
47% Public procurement
41% Dedicated budget
New
comers
Sector-
specialists
Pioneers

8. Obstacles to a circular economy
transition

9. Top priorities for the future
Timeline: OECD programme

10. THANK YOU!
ORIANA.ROMANO@OECD.ORG
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