The UK will establish the “world’s first” United Nations-backed International Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Resource Management in the Circular Economy, Resources Minister Robbie Moore has announced.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will support the establishment of the centre in the UK, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said. The UK Government plan to open the centre formally in April 2024.
Defra said the centre will develop sustainable approaches to the circular economy and resource efficiency to enable carbon reduction and the transition to a greener future.
The centre will comprise of five institutions: University College London (UCL), University of Exeter, Brunel University London, Swansea University and the British Geological Survey. The five participating institutions have together contributed £1.85 million to fund the centre’s technical activities, Defra said.
Defra said the UK will help countries across the world to maximise the environmental and economic opportunities the circular economy offers. The centre will be co-ordinated by a Government-funded UNECE research manager based in Geneva.
Defra said the centre will explore circularity in areas such as metals, construction and critical minerals to develop effective data, technological innovation, finance models and policy.
This is real recognition of the UK’s global leadership in sustainable resource management and testament to Britain’s world-leading academic expertise.
Resources Minister Robbie Moore commented: “This is real recognition of the UK’s global leadership in sustainable resource management and testament to Britain’s world-leading academic expertise.
“We are delighted to host this centre, enabling our cutting-edge UK academics to develop the tools and research that will help countries across the world seize the opportunities of the circular economy, leading the way in the transition to a greener future.”
Defra said the centre will help drive the Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste programme forward and contribute to the UK’s efforts to protect the environment and improve its use of resources.
UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean said: “Making the use of our resources more sustainable and moving towards a circular economy is fundamental to sustainable development and climate action.
“Partnerships mobilising international expertise play an important role in UN cooperation to develop and share best practices. I welcome the establishment of this new Centre of Excellence, with its focus on circularity of metals, construction and critical raw materials.”
