Cutting emissions isn't enough; the world needs to move to a circular economy

Singapore

THIS year's United Nations climate summit, COP26 - held over for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic - has seen parties make up for lost time; governments, corporations and community groups alike have made bold pledges to cut their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in a bid to reduce global warming and avert a deepening of the climate crisis.

But, while laudable, emissions cuts will only bring about part of the change that's needed: a more complete transformation of the economy will have to come about - from the traditional take-make-waste model, to a circular one in which waste is reduced and resources are re-used.