CIRCOMOD highlights circular economy research at EGU General Assembly 2025

The CIRCOMOD project made a strong impact at the 2025 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), held in Vienna from 27 April to 2 May. As the largest European conference for geoscientists, the EGU General Assembly brought together more than 21,000 participants, including scientists, policymakers, journalists, and educators, for a week of knowledge exchange and scientific advancement.

A key highlight was the special session “Integrating Industrial Ecology Tools with Integrated Assessment Models for Enhanced Sustainability Insights”, chaired by CIRCOMOD partner Stefan Pauliuk from the University of Freiburg. This session explored the promising synergies between Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) and Industrial Ecology (IE) tools such as Material Flow Analysis (MFA), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Input-Output (IO) analysis. Presenters and participants discussed methodological innovations, case studies, and future pathways for integrating these analytical frameworks to produce richer, more actionable sustainability insights.

Several CIRCOMOD research teams presented cutting-edge work during the event:

🔹 Edgar Hertwich and Meng Jiang from NTNU showcased their paper on “Representing Material Stocks and Flows for Machinery and Equipment in Scenario Models Capturing Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Opportunities”. Their work applies existing Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios and a CIRCOMOD baseline to incorporate transformative change and capital dynamics within the industrial sector. The goal: to better understand material demand and identify circular economy and climate mitigation solutions related to metals, machinery, and equipment—crucial pillars of a sustainable, climate-neutral future.

🔹 A team from Utrecht University and PBL—Fergus Haswell, Oreane Edelenbosch, Laura Piscicelli, Lucas Straub, and Detlef van Vuuren—presented their research on “Global South Circularity for Climate Change Mitigation: Insights into Integrated Assessment Modelling”. Their study investigates how IAMs can better reflect the realities of the Global South by integrating region-specific processes, material cycles, and circular economy strategies. Drawing on literature and expert interviews, the authors offer actionable recommendations to improve equity, technical representation, and policy relevance in global climate and resource-use models.

Together, these contributions reflect CIRCOMOD’s central mission: advancing the science and modeling of circular economy transitions, while ensuring relevance and inclusivity in climate policy analysis.

About the EGU General Assembly

The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is Europe’s foremost organization for Earth, planetary, and space science research. In collaboration with partner institutions worldwide, EGU promotes both fundamental and applied research that addresses critical societal and environmental challenges. Its General Assembly is a flagship annual event, offering a vibrant platform for scientific exchange across disciplines.