Circular economy pathways for materials, buildings, and climate policy – CIRCOMOD webinar in Athens
On 8 December 2025, researchers and stakeholders gathered in Athens for the webinar “Circular Economy Pathways for Materials, Buildings, and Climate Policy”, co-organised with CMCC. The event showcased the latest progress of the CIRCOMOD project in integrating circular economy (CE) strategies into climate mitigation modelling.
The webinar opened with an overview of the project’s analytical framework, highlighting how CE strategies—such as reducing material use, reusing products, and recycling—can be assessed across sectors, materials, and value chains. Speakers emphasized that while circular economy approaches offer significant potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they remain insufficiently represented in current climate models.
Presentations then explored different modelling perspectives. Demand-side analysis demonstrated how changes in service demand, including housing and mobility, can drive reductions in material consumption. Economic modelling using Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) frameworks illustrated how CE strategies influence macroeconomic outcomes such as GDP, trade, and sectoral performance.
The session also introduced key tools developed within CIRCOMOD. Circular Economy Profiles were presented as a means of translating complex modelling results into accessible insights for policymakers and practitioners. In addition, the CIRCOMOD Data Hub was showcased as a central platform for harmonising and sharing material flow and emissions data across modelling communities.
Looking ahead, the project will focus on developing integrated scenarios to assess how circular economy strategies can support the achievement of climate targets. The concluding Q&A session raised important questions about implementation timelines, data gaps—particularly on reuse—and the geopolitical implications of material dependencies.
Overall, the webinar highlighted the importance of combining advanced modelling approaches, robust data infrastructure, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to better understand and unlock the potential of circular economy pathways for climate policy.
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