participatory workshop, sharing their views on how the challenges of CE should be
overcome and the opportunities to be exploited.
During the first part of the workshop, EIT Climate-KIC experts exercised system
innovation tools to policymakers and other participants aiming to form a picture of
their views on CE integration to S3. The stakeholders provided their opinion
regarding CE implementation in S3 in Greece. The main opportunities and challenges identified during this process are discussed below.
12.7.1 Opportunities
In the class of the opportunities emerging from the workshop, first came the green
growth of the Greek economy, which can be achieved through several interventions
including the implementation of CE in different aspects. For example by redefining
the regulations on recovered wastewater, new possibilities for the use of treated
water will be created leading to an increase in wastewater use. The combination of a
shift towards the growth of the primary sector, the strengthening of the IT market and
the creation of specific IT brands will drive the above implementation goals, which
in turn will generate more jobs.
There is a real growth scenario for Greece, where it is possible to demonstrate
how an economic crisis can represent a moment of industrial transition to the circular
economy. Cost deduction and sustainable consumption increase can be the right
combination to overcome both economic and environmental critical issues. For
example, an interaction between the agri-food and mining sectors could be created
to reduce imports of raw materials and circularly manage existing mines. This would
promote the creation of a new sector that of agri-mining. Equally required is the need
for the circular economy to be technologically dressed, i.e. the use of deep tech to
improve decision-making and the optimisation of all procedures. Besides that, it is
possible to make the shipping repair industry a conservation industry.
The development of the green economy will be possible thanks to greater synergy
between governmental bodies and through a public-private partnership. Cohesion in
terms of economic development should be increased, and a differentiated approach
to access more sustainable resources, especially in the extractive industry, should be
ensured. This is the only way to increase competitiveness at international level. Due
to the different perceptions of the concepts and expectations for the implementation
of the circular economy by the different stakeholders, it is of great importance to start
now for the design of the new programming period an intensive discussion on the
national concept for the implementation of circular economy issues in any term that
can help the sustainable development of the country.
In the preparation of the next programming period, the opportunity to incorporate
the circular economy into the sectoral priorities of the new SSS should be included as
a specific priority. As far as the public sector in the Central Greece region is
concerned, it is necessary to apply the best practices necessary to assess the appropriateness of CE; create synergies and educational programmes and show problems
to citizens on the decision-making side.
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L. Tsipouri et al.
overcome and the opportunities to be exploited.
During the first part of the workshop, EIT Climate-KIC experts exercised system
innovation tools to policymakers and other participants aiming to form a picture of
their views on CE integration to S3. The stakeholders provided their opinion
regarding CE implementation in S3 in Greece. The main opportunities and challenges identified during this process are discussed below.
12.7.1 Opportunities
In the class of the opportunities emerging from the workshop, first came the green
growth of the Greek economy, which can be achieved through several interventions
including the implementation of CE in different aspects. For example by redefining
the regulations on recovered wastewater, new possibilities for the use of treated
water will be created leading to an increase in wastewater use. The combination of a
shift towards the growth of the primary sector, the strengthening of the IT market and
the creation of specific IT brands will drive the above implementation goals, which
in turn will generate more jobs.
There is a real growth scenario for Greece, where it is possible to demonstrate
how an economic crisis can represent a moment of industrial transition to the circular
economy. Cost deduction and sustainable consumption increase can be the right
combination to overcome both economic and environmental critical issues. For
example, an interaction between the agri-food and mining sectors could be created
to reduce imports of raw materials and circularly manage existing mines. This would
promote the creation of a new sector that of agri-mining. Equally required is the need
for the circular economy to be technologically dressed, i.e. the use of deep tech to
improve decision-making and the optimisation of all procedures. Besides that, it is
possible to make the shipping repair industry a conservation industry.
The development of the green economy will be possible thanks to greater synergy
between governmental bodies and through a public-private partnership. Cohesion in
terms of economic development should be increased, and a differentiated approach
to access more sustainable resources, especially in the extractive industry, should be
ensured. This is the only way to increase competitiveness at international level. Due
to the different perceptions of the concepts and expectations for the implementation
of the circular economy by the different stakeholders, it is of great importance to start
now for the design of the new programming period an intensive discussion on the
national concept for the implementation of circular economy issues in any term that
can help the sustainable development of the country.
In the preparation of the next programming period, the opportunity to incorporate
the circular economy into the sectoral priorities of the new SSS should be included as
a specific priority. As far as the public sector in the Central Greece region is
concerned, it is necessary to apply the best practices necessary to assess the appropriateness of CE; create synergies and educational programmes and show problems
to citizens on the decision-making side.
218
L. Tsipouri et al.