One of the last in the series of coffee colloquies inspired by our now Late Lord Mayor, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, was to consider SDG 12. Like all these events it was held in partnership with a learned body – University College London with the Chair of the event, Professor Paola Lettieri, being the Pro-Provost of UCL East.
Achieving SDG 12 requires fostering circular economy models, sustainable production practices and responsible consumption. These approaches can take advantage of opportunities at every stage of production to reduce resource and fossil fuel use, drive innovation, conserve energy and mitigate emissions. Progress, it seems, will largely depend on robust regulatory frameworks, some financial incentives and then raising public awareness. All of which are achievable but complex.
Professor Lettieri opened the event with the challenge of what needs to change. One aspect she mentioned is that at UCL now all students have to take a sustainability module whatever their main subject. This will really bring a more comprehensive understanding.
Prof Mark Miodownik reminded us of the 400 million tonnes of waste. Recycling is often the least best solution and he urged consideration of local repair as being better for the economy.
Prof Elli Leadbeater spoke of her work regarding pollinators stating that between 30 – 75% of all flying insects have been lost in the last 40 years whereas global reliance on pollinators has gone up by 300%. Whilst carbon is an easy metric to measure; biodiversity is so much more complex and UCL are working on this critical project.
Prof Paul Ekins spoke about how consumption has a great hold on all our economies reminding us that to “consume” means to destroy. Meat production is both a huge polluter and user of land that should be freed up for other agricultural uses.
Emily Carr of Green Alliance urged the use of national targets of material use as already happens in Finland and Spain.
Allan Barton, Liveryman of the Water Conservators, spoke of the need for a circular economy and praised Apple for their target to be self-sufficient in materials for their products by 2030 with extensive use of recycling and refabricating.
Prof Julia Stegemann referred to the mismatch that virgin extraction of materials is under less scrutiny that recycled products. There needs to be a commercial viability of all resource recovery.
Jacob Heitland of Newham Council advocated that a carbon budget needs to be considered for the public good with an emphasis on the need for a just transition, using the circular economy to create better skills, help fix poverty and create resilience.
Prof Panagiota Angeli spoke about the work that Newham was doing with UCL around waste to recovery work. Cities like Copenhagen that have built a network based on burning waste to create energy now need to import waste to keep the system going. An unintended consequence.
Questions came for Martin Bigg of Water Conservators (pictured left) and Joanna Knight of the Furniture Makers who indicated that repair and reuse was essential and more skills needed locally.
Piers Williamson, Master Currier, is an expert in housing needs and asked about the issues around house building refurbishment and energy use.
I conclude with a quote:
“Governments must build circular economies that address resource depletion and invest in modern waste-management programmes anchored in reuse, remanufacturing, and recovery.”
– António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, 20 March, 2024
Alderman Alison Gowman