SDG, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 40: Resolutionen om cirkulær økonomi fra den Inter Parlamentariske Unions virtuelle forårssession afholdt den 24.-27. maj 2021

2020-21
Alm.del Bilag 40
Offentligt

142nd IPU ASSEMBLY

Virtual session, 24-28 May 2021

Mainstreaming digitalization and the circular economy

to achieve the SDGs, particularly responsible

consumption and production

Resolution adopted by consensus by the 142nd IPU Assembly

(Virtual session, 27 May 2021)

The 142nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Fully endorsing

the Political Declaration of the Sustainable Development

Goals Summit (September 2019), which reaffirms the commitment to advance the 2030

Agenda for Sustainable Development, and calls for accelerated action in order to achieve

the SDGs,

Recalling

the Ministerial Declaration of the 2019 United Nations Environment

Assembly, particularly the commitment made by governments worldwide to "improve

national resource management strategies with an integrated full life-cycle approaches

and analysis to achieve resource-efficient and low-carbon economies", while taking into

account national circumstances,

Noting

the establishment of the Global Alliance on Circular Economy and

Resource Efficiency, which aims to support the transition to a global circular economy for

more efficient and equitable use of resources so as to achieve sustainable consumption

and production, and inclusive and sustainable industrialization,

Underlining

that the circular economy and digitalization, and the interplay

between them, can make a major contribution to reaching the SDGs, particularly

responsible consumption and production,

Mindful

that due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are facing major disruptions

that will force us to use our limited means even more efficiently against the background of

the crisis,

Stressing

that the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed hard-won development

gains, particularly in achieving gender equality and reducing poverty, and has exposed

the deep economic and social inequalities and the challenges addressed by the 2030

Agenda for Sustainable Development, thus making the achievement of the SDGs all the

more necessary and urgent,

Emphasizing

that responsible consumption and production are pivotal and

cross-cutting elements of the SDGs, and are crucial means to build back better and

greener, as they enable the efficient use of natural resources, minimize environmental

degradation, pollution and waste, and consider each stage of the life cycle while creating

opportunities for social and economic development, thus contributing to poverty

eradication and shared prosperity,

Aware

that the pandemic crisis has revealed the precariousness of long and

complex value chains, and the flaws of the linear "take-make-use-dispose" pattern of

production and consumption,

#IPU142

SDG, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 40: Resolutionen om cirkulær økonomi fra den Inter Parlamentariske Unions virtuelle forårssession afholdt den 24.-27. maj 2021

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Noting

that the price of products does not always reflect environmental or social costs,

such as pollution effects or underpaid labour, which have a negative impact on people’s health and

quality of life,

Encouraging

the disclosure of appropriate product information to consumers, and

promoting the development of measures to increase transparency in production chains,

Stressing

that circular economy transformation, although predominantly associated

with product manufacturing or resource intensive industries and value chains, refers to the

economy as a whole, including service dominated industries, thus requiring the engagement of the

full range of actors across each industry and sector,

Noting

that the world is currently in the midst of the creation of a more circular

economy, through policy initiatives such as the European Circular Economy Action Plan, and of the

digital revolution, both of which have the power to transform our economy and society,

Noting also

that big efforts are currently being made by national and international

policymakers to promote and regulate both transitions, and the increasing need to align their efforts

or create bridges between policies,

Underscoring

that, through the "digital for development" (D4D) policy, consideration is

being given to how digitalization could change people’s lives and

result in inclusive, equitable,

efficient, affordable, faster and, above all, sustainable universal growth,

Noting

that digitalization gives rise to novel digital platforms, helps create new kinds of

markets, which can be based on the virtualization of products and processes, and facilitates easier

and more efficient networking, collaboration and co-creation with stakeholders,

Bearing in mind

that digitalization helps to cut costs and increase efficiency, including

efficiency of resources,

Underscoring

the important role of international digital learning and collaboration

platforms, often with virtual technologies, for learning, networking and co-creation, while the

COVID-19 pandemic poses severe challenges to education across the world due to limited access

to infrastructure and technologies,

Aware

that digitalization is not a goal in itself but an enabler and an accelerator to

effectively achieve all 17 SDGs,

Highlighting

the fact that the COVID-19 crisis has accelerated digitalization,

Mindful

that because of the restrained mobility of people due to the prescribed health

protocol of physical distancing as a result of the pandemic, consumer behaviour towards

digitalization has radically changed, especially in terms of transactions of both private and public

goods,

Underscoring

that any future disaster risk reduction strategy will be (big) data driven,

Paying due regard

to avoiding the most vulnerable people becoming victims of the

circular economy and digital transition by including solidarity in the recovery process in order to

fully seize the opportunities of the current crisis,

Stressing

that the shift to a circular economy has the potential to allow countries to

decouple growth from resource use and environmental impact, generate economic opportunities,

build long-term resilience, protect the environment and human health,

Underlining

that the implementation of the circular economy principles in key sectors

can play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and successfully addressing

climate change,

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Bearing in mind

that creating consumer demand for resource efficient products can be

a challenge, as environmentally sustainable products may not be easily available, affordable,

user-friendly or functional and attractive to consumers, especially at the early stages of their

development,

Acknowledging

the potential of digitalization to strengthen the circular economy, and

stressing that circular economy and sustainability principles should be at the heart of digitalization,

Noting

that digitalization and the circular economy are driven by the following "bridging

technologies": the internet of things, artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, 3D printing,

augmented reality, and blockchain,

Recognizing

that the circular economy and digitalization have the potential to

contribute to equitable economic growth and enable the economic empowerment of women and

vulnerable populations, and youth-led collective action,

Emphasizing

that mainstreaming digitalization and the circular economy requires

ambition, political will and a fundamental change of vision at all levels, which go far beyond the

standard digital and environmental political agendas, and must be based on a systemic national

approach with the participation of all sectors of society, as well as on enhanced international

cooperation,

Invites

parliaments to give digitalization and the circular economy more prominence on

the political agenda, as part of their efforts to address the SDGs, particularly

responsible consumption and production;

Calls on

parliaments to mainstream digitalization and circular economy principles into

public policies and national strategies, and to adopt an enabling framework for their

implementation;

Notes

that reducing existing inequalities in terms of access to digital platforms on the

part of women and many vulnerable populations as well as marginalized segments of

society, including Indigenous people, racialized communities, and persons with

disabilities in order to enhance their full participation in the digital economic transition

should be duly regarded;

Encourages

parliaments to promote adequate regulatory frameworks, including

economic and financial incentives, with a view to enabling circular economy models to

deliver sustainable products and services that are both scalable and competitive in

terms of price, quality and convenience;

Calls on

all actors to make the right innovative choices against the background of the

pandemic and to prioritize future-proof and sustainable sectors and technologies while

benefitting from the huge social, economic and ecological advantages of smart

digitalization;

Invites

parliaments to recognize the need for and opportunity of a resilient and

low-carbon inclusive recovery from COVID-19, as an enabler for achieving the 2030

Agenda, and calls on them to ensure that recovery plans incorporate responsible

consumption and production practices, based on digitalization and circular economy

principles, among others, while taking into account national circumstances;

Calls on

parliaments to adopt legislation that addresses food waste and loss at every

phase and level of the food supply chain, and to stimulate the use of new technologies

for the creation of an integrated agricultural and food system whereby food utilization

is optimized and loss and waste of resources are minimized;

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Urges

parliaments to support policies that encourage repair, reuse and resource

recycling, including the design of products suitable for recycling; the reduction of

primary material consumption; and the utilization of secondary resources to facilitate

sustainable resource management, and invites them to encourage new business and

service models that are not dependent on mass consumption of disposable products;

Requests

parliaments to ensure that the functioning of all public institutions, central

and local, takes a more holistic approach to sustainability, while incorporating both

digital and circular economy principles, including the adoption of green and

sustainable procurement legislative frameworks and monitoring systems;

Invites

parliaments to encourage international policy coordination of standards,

regulations and policies for the circular economy;

Calls on

parliaments to create an environment conducive to the development and

application of digital solutions, such as the internet of things, artificial intelligence and

blockchain, aimed at maximizing the potential of the circular economy;

Also calls on

parliaments, as part of efforts to create an enabling environment for

digitalization and the circular economy, to place special emphasis on data policies and

common data architecture;

Invites

parliaments to encourage research and development to increase innovation

and knowledge-sharing including the transfer of technology, particularly to developing

countries on mutually agreed terms for the uptake, upscaling and replication of

resource-efficient and clean technologies and innovative business practices based on

digitalization and the circular economy;

Encourages

parliaments to promote collaboration with the Technology Bank for Least

Developed Countries, established by UN General Assembly resolution 71/251, which

has a critical role to play in the digital transformation of the LDCs, to attain sustainable

development by facilitating access to and implementation of digital technologies and

providing assistance with data management issues;

Calls on

parliaments from donor countries to encourage international development

cooperation agencies to mainstream digitalization and circular economy principles in

their financial assistance and capacity-building programmes aimed at supporting

COVID-19 economic recovery and SDG implementation;

Also calls on

governments to integrate digital skills and a circular way of life in

education at the earliest possible stage; and to conduct awareness campaigns to

encourage consumers’

engagement in sustainable practices;

Invites

parliaments to create an enabling environment for citizens’ access to digital

solutions for their digital empowerment;

Also invites

parliaments and governments to allocate appropriate financial resources

to encourage the development of both digital and circular economy business models,

while specifically empowering young and women entrepreneurs;

Further invites

parliaments to promote gender-inclusive education frameworks and

policies to boost education opportunities and digital skills development for women and

girls in STEAM-subjects to narrow the gender digital divide;

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

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20.

Encourages

parliaments to support efforts by regional and local institutions to foster

urban sustainability through the development of inclusive, safe, resilient and

sustainable smart cities that digitally optimize communication, transport, energy, water

and sanitation systems, according to circular economy and digitalization principles;

Emphasizes

the urgent need to work towards a circular built environment by adopting

building practices that minimize the use of raw materials to decrease emissions, by

increasing the recovery rate of construction and demolition waste, and by improving

the energy efficiency and extending the lifespan of existing buildings;

Calls on

parliaments to encourage the integration of circular economy models into the

national response to climate change, and invites them to ensure that climate change

policies and strategies include measures to optimize the utility of products by

maximizing their use and extending their lifespan and enhance recycling (using waste

as a resource), while promoting a circular design that reduces material consumption

and uses lower-carbon alternatives;

Also calls

on parliaments to encourage full transparency pertaining to all used

materials in manufacturing in order to limit any introduction of harmful chemical

substances in the production cycle, and furthermore to promote the use of fully

recyclable materials;

Invites

parliaments to support the adoption, including through public-private

partnerships, of sound environmental and social standards for the extractive

industries, as well as of standards and policy frameworks that enhance the

sustainable recycling of secondary materials and mitigate challenges associated with

the digital economy;

Calls on

parliaments to promote digitalization and circular solutions, including circular

procurement, circular design and services instead of products, as a means to develop

a more resilient, and economically and environmentally sustainable travel and tourism

industry;

Requests

parliaments to ensure that governments invest in adequate digital

infrastructure for secure, accessible and affordable internet coverage, connectivity,

regulatory frameworks for data protection/privacy, and cybersecurity standards and

governance, in order to enable the circular economy and D4D to reach their full

potential;

Invites

parliaments to incentivize the implementation of circular business models with

long-term benefits, such as changing consumer behaviour, stimulating innovation, and

the scaling and diffusion of technologies;

Calls on

parliaments to stimulate national and international networking and

collaboration between schools, research institutions and networks, and other relevant

stakeholders (for example, companies, NGOs and international organizations) to find

digital solutions to challenges related to the circular economy, for example by

encouraging co-creation through competitions and hackathons;

Invites

parliaments to ensure that efforts to accelerate the transition to digitalization

and the circular economy address potential risks, such as increasing material and

energy use, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, deepening the digital gap among

and within countries, and increasing the environmental footprint of the IT industry, as

well as the transition’s negative consequences

in terms of security and human health;

Calls on

the IPU to enhance cooperation with Member Parliaments and other

organizations in order to gather evidence on the circular economy, environment and

digitalization, to map the interplay between them and to promote guidelines for

parliamentary action;

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

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31.

Also calls on

parliaments to see to it that digitalization and circular-economy

principles, and strengthened goals to this effect, are incorporated while approving

future free trade agreements, which require parliamentary ratification;

Invites

parliaments to support the use of standardized, comparable and high-quality

digital data which is properly mined, investigated and managed, and stresses that

promoting digitalization is an important tool to support efficient and reliable information

collection and delivery, which are key elements for a safe and sustainable circular

economy;

Requests

parliaments to rationalize the discussion on data sharing by distinguishing

between different types of data and to establish fair and functional data regulation

based on common sense by securing fair access to data, as well as fair protection of

data according to the internationally accepted data protection principles, intellectual

property rights and other relevant legal frameworks as per national circumstances;

Encourages

parliaments and governments to engage in dialogue with stakeholders

(for example, civil society, companies and administrations) in order to increase their

awareness of the importance of providing open data and turn them into active

participants of the data economy and co-creators of knowledge when legally possible;

Calls on

parliaments to envisage measures aimed at tackling people’s lack of basic

digital skills and e-literacy, and at increasing the number of IT, artificial intelligence,

blockchain and other digital professionals, as a means to proactively shape a digital

transformation centred around sustainable ecological, social and economic

development dimensions;

Invites

parliaments to exchange information and best practices and implement

capacity-building programmes with a view to increasing awareness and knowledge

among parliamentarians about the interplay between digitalization and the circular

economy, and its potential in promoting a resilient and green recovery and achieving

the SDGs, particularly responsible consumption and production.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

The resolution was negotiated in keeping with the Special Rules of Procedure governing virtual sessions of

the IPU Assembly and Standing Committees. Reservations were received from:

India,

which expressed reservations on preambular paragraphs 7 and 29.

Nicaragua,

which expressed reservations on operative paragraphs 3, 8, 20, and 28.