The earth has only a limited amount of natural resources. Our current wellbeing and the global economic model are based on overconsumption of natural resources. We have already been aware of this for 50 years (The Limits to Growth, 1972). In spite of this, the global economy has continued to grow, on the expense of the earth’s wellbeing. Fortunately, we have now realised that biodiversity loss and climate change are consequences of human activity.
Mitigating the consumption of natural resources supports the achievement of the climate goals and the protection of biodiversity. According to the assessment of the International Resource Panel, the acquisition and processing of natural resources account for approximately half of the international greenhouse gas emissions and 90 per cent of the loss of biodiversity. (IRP 2019, Global Resources Outlook 2019: Natural Resources for the Future We Want.) Sustainable use of natural resources and a circular economy of materials therefore plays a key role when we strive for a sustainable future and look for solutions to mitigating climate change and preserving biodiversity.
The aim is to change over from a linear economy, in which everything is used only once and discarded in the end, towards a carbon-neutral circular economy, in which the global economy operates within the earth’s carrying capacity. Sustainable business is profitable business to companies. If a company is not profitable, it will soon no longer exist.
The sustainable development goals (SDGs) have a social, cultural, economic and environmental perspective. When we develop measures towards a carbon-neutral circular economy, we must always take into account all of these dimensions. A carbon-neutral circular economy is therefore a solution that will help us strive for the SDGs.
From the point of view of VET, this means that the SDGs and the basics of a carbon-neutral circular economy must be offered to all students, regardless of the field they are studying. Circular economy solutions, i.e. the tools for performing the work in a new way, are advanced competence. How is a circular economy implemented in places such as construction sites, hairdressers’, nursing care and, say, in primary production.