Combatting the Climate Crisis by Closing the Loop
The World needs a Paradigm of Circularity
It is easy to see that the Earth is finite. There are limits. Travel far enough in one direction and you will end up where you departed from. We require many materials to combat the Climate Crisis, and if we continue on the current course many crucial resources will deplete before it is possible to reach a state where the effect of human civilization on the climate is net-zero¹. But it is not too late to change. A circular economy is possible, and rewarding.
The circle has always symbolized perfection. Flaunting its infinite angles, it is this geometric shape that we should most aspire to emulate. A world in which there are no losses, where there is no waste: The loop is closed. Our current way of living is not sustainable. Materials and energy should be valued not only for their uses, but also for the environmental impact of obtaining them. Then it will turn out that re-use was the better alternative all along.
Materials and energy should only be exhausted when there is no alternative, and governments, organizations, and individuals must each demand a circular paradigm.
Ideal Material Cycle
Modern human society is built upon the use of naturally occurring materials in increasingly complex ways. We extract, we refine, we transform those materials into objects and energy which we use in our everyday lives. Humankind has the unique ability to use the atoms provided by the Earth in this way, to such a far-reaching extent. Therefore, we alone have the responsibility to use these materials sustainably. The below diagram shows the material cycle of an ideal circular economy.
Even before deciding to use something, there are alternatives. The most effective is to simply not use, but refuse (R0). Energy which is not used does not have to be generated². Items which are not used or consumed do not have to be manufactured. Secondly, we can rethink how we use (R1). I could own a car which I use maybe 2% of the time, but what if 50 persons owned this same car, each of them using it as they need it? Finally, the second-best option after not using something is to use less of it by being conscious about the usage and using more effectively. (R3).
Once the decision has been made to use, all processes and systems should be focussed on making the most out of it. Reuse as much as possible (R3), do not throw things out while they still have their use. If reuse has become impossible, we should then try to repair (R4), refurbish (R5), remanufacture (R6), or repurpose (R7) it. Give the object another life, another use. In the same or another role, be creative! Although not the best example of sustainability, reusing wind turbine blades as bike sheds is a very creative example (There are also more serious plans being made to recycle wind turbine blades)³.
If there is no imaginable way to give the item another life, the raw materials that were used to manufacture it need to be recovered so that they can be used anew (R8). Processes to recycle common items that require scarce materials such as solar panels, batteries, and electronics will need to be refined. Finally, from any remaining material the energy that went into making it should be extracted (R9). For example by utilising burning or fermenting to generate energy. The greenhouse gasses released during the recovery should be used for other processes through industrial synergy⁴ or captured as a final resort. In the ideal circular economy landfill is not required as the systems and processes in place are all optimized to prevent it.
Minimalism
Minimalism is the idea that you only use what you truly need⁵. If this idea sees widespread adoption, it would go a long way towards refusing, reducing, and rethinking usage: the first and most important steps towards closing the loop. In our capitalistic society, many view ever-increasing consumption as a good thing, as this indicates economic growth since those items which are consumed must also be manufactured by someone. However, a more minimalistic lifestyle can provide a lot of personal freedom and satisfaction, while at the same time refuting the idea that infinite growth is a necessity. It is very simple. For everything you own, or consider owning, ask yourself: Do I truly need this, does this make me happy? For many items we own and purchase, if you critically think about it, the answer will be “no”. We can be perfectly happy without them, and are probably even better off without them. Asking yourself this question has the additional benefit that it makes you more aware of your thought process, and the values underlying the decisions that you make.
Minimalism is freeing because it allows you to spend time and energy on things more important than objects. All items we own require some amount of our attention in the form of time and energy. Time and energy for maintenance, cleaning, moving, showing them off, thinking or talking about them, and of course using them. Now more than ever, it is very easy to get lost acquiring more and more things, without realizing that the balance of time and energy invested versus the value and happiness we get out of them is not in our favor.
People are more important than things, and that includes yourself. Refuse to acquire more and more unnecessary objects. Spend the time and energy saved on yourself and your important relationships with others. What is important varies from person to person. For some, a minimalistic lifestyle means living with the absolute bare minimum required to survive, while others live a seemingly ordinary life. The important thing it to only own something if it makes you happy.
Demand Circularity
It is a sad reality that circularity does not come naturally in the current socio-economic system, it requires outside incentives. The long-term environmental impact of the production of materials and energy is generally not priced in, which makes circularity seem like an objective waste of resources in comparison. To force a breakthrough, everyone who wishes to see the loop closed must do what lies in their power to demand circularity.
Governments must demand circularity. Governments have a lot of options to do so, as in modern democratic society there is a social contract which we all adhere to: a contract between government and citizen where we give up certain freedoms for the benefit of the collective⁶. It is to the benefit of the collective to have a sustainable future. The tax system can be reworked to push for circular and energy extensive solutions. There can be a system where green dividends are paid back to citizens for an income-levelling effect⁷. They can accelerate new markets, for example by deciding that planes should use renewable fuels, or that biogas or green hydrogen must be used in place of gas. Give tax benefits to using recycled materials. A deflationary monetary policy can reduce the incentive to consume. In general, governments can promote sustainable and circular alternatives by fitting taxation and legislation to this goal. The technology is there, the government only has to provide the incentives. This is a political choice.
Businesses must demand circularity. They can actively choose to only do business with vendors and contractors who also demand circularity from their vendors and contractors. When enough businesses do this everyone will be forced to follow. They should focus on producing products which can easily be repaired, refurbished, and recycled⁸. Waste and unnecessary use of materials should be avoided. Businesses can strife for a net-zero impact, and make it a point to only do business with others who do the same.
People must demand circularity. Of course, the decisions that businesses and governments could make to demand circularity are in the end a result of individuals and the decisions that they make. In the same vein, all demand for materials and energy ultimately is also derived from that. If enough people change their paradigm to a paradigm of circularity, then the world will trend towards it over time. Living by minimalistic values is a way to achieve that.
Conclusion
Materials and energy should only be exhausted when there is no alternative. This is a firm requirement to meet the demands to combat the climate crisis. In an ideal world nothing is wasted: a circle is formed. Minimalism is a philosophy to achieve happiness and freedom by consuming less. Governments, businesses and individuals must all demand circularity. It does not come naturally, but requires outside incentives. Those incentives can be provided when people who believe in a circular future exercise their responsibility.
Personally, I find this a fascinating topic. It is easy to visualize a pure circular future. And in many instances the techniques, processes, and systems that are required are known and well described. The practical application is far more difficult, because the majority of people (probably includes myself at least partially) are unwilling to make the required short-term sacrifices to enable the long-term future. A circular future requires a system that incentivizes circularity instead of consumerism.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Footnotes
Here is a link to my previous article
Here is a link to my next article
- The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions
- Trias Energetica: 1 Don’t use energy 2 Use renewable energy 3 Use non-renewable energy as efficiently as possible
- Bike Sheds made from Wind Turbines Blades — Wind Turbine Blade Recycling Plans
- Reusing CO2 for plastics production as an example of industrial synergy
- “Goodbye Things” by Fumio Sasaki — A great book on japanese minimalism which opened my eyes to this important idea
- The Idea of a Social Contract
- Carbon Fees and Dividends
- The EU is pushing for product design that keeps recycling in mind
