Main objectives of the study:
- Develop a circular economy vision for Chile's cities.
- Collect data and indicators based on existing public information on materials, energy, and emissions.
- Identify circularity opportunities for decarbonizing three economic sectors: energy, construction, and food.
- Propose circular interventions for the study cities based on circular economy principles and business models.
The available data and indicators made it possible to construct a first approximation of the urban metabolism of the cities under study and guide the circular measures in the selected sectors. The latter includes electrification of public transportation, improving energy efficiency standards, and recovering surplus heat. Also included were the reconversion of disused spaces and incorporation of sustainable construction standards, promotion of sustainable consumption habits for food waste prevention, food rescue, and recycling of nutrients for bioenergy. The proposed measures were selected for their contribution to GHG reduction, resource valorization, reduction of demand for virgin resources, and social and quality of life impact.
Download here the presentations of the first Circular Cities for Chile workshop:
Circular cities from a regional perspective
How can we continue to promote sustainable urban development? Today, several regional governments have taken significant steps to implement circular initiatives. The signing of the Declaration of Circular Cities of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2021 reflected this phenomenon, bringing together different actors from urban centers that recognize the urgency of the environmental crisis and commit to a set of measures to move towards an urban transition towards sustainability.
However, it is necessary to generate concrete tools to share knowledge and strategies to establish this new sustainable paradigm. In this context, Enel and the Center for Innovation in Cities of the Faculty of Architecture of the Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD) joined forces to propose a reference framework for the signatory cities of the declaration itself so that each one can make a diagnosis of its progress and review cases of good practices.
This document aims to share knowledge, provide tools and broaden citizens' awareness of the circular economy, main concepts explaining a circular economy's potential, case studies of projects, and implementation of circular value chains in the region's cities—also, guidelines: lines of work to move towards circularity.
Circular Cities in Latin America and the Caribbean: Towards a new paradigm for sustainable urban development.