3s3: Scoping the ability of circular economy policy options for improving biodiversity

Abstract

Global biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides are declining at unprecedented rates, threatening nature and human well-being. To  bend the curve, increased efforts are needed, including radical changes in the way we consume and produce, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystems (IPBES). The Dutch government formulated the ambition to halve the ecological footprint of Dutch consumption by 2050. A transition to a circular economy (CE) is considered a means to bend the curve. However, without further research, the potential of circular economy to halve the Dutch ecological footprint and enhance biodiversity remains insufficiently substantiated. This study identifies knowledge gaps surrounding the relationship between circular economy, biodiversity, and the footprint family.