Sustainable Economic Models

Circular economy and the challenge of a sustainable economy: Not every country knows about the potential of circular economy or has a strategy in place for creating it. A better understanding of the benefits and impacts of circular economy measures, particularly for climate and biodiversity, is needed. Even if implementing or mainstreaming circular economy practices were easier, assessing their impact may prove to be a challenge.

Green global value chains for regional sustainable development: The division of production activities across the world, a phenomenon where production is broken into activities and tasks carried out in different countries, constitutes a challenge for the distribution of value and prosperity of regions. Together with this, the different speeds of transition towards green economies across world geography, puts a concern on the strategy required to participate successfully in these global value chains, with different structures (spiders vs snakes, following Paul Antràs distinction).

Sustainable investments-Green and Blue Economies: Securing investments in green infrastructure, renewable energy and sustainable technologies is key to promoting a more resilient, low-carbon economy. Research in these areas looks at how cities can take advantage of sustainable marine and coastal resources (such as sustainable fisheries or marine renewable energy) while ensuring these activities do not degrade the environment.

Long term vision and economic growth scalability: Transformative research is not just focused on short-term solutions. It aims to envision the future of urban coastal cities in the long term (e.g., 50 or 100 years from now) and develop sustainable pathways for growth. This includes scalable solutions that can be implemented in cities around the world, regardless of their size or wealth. The research needs to identify replicable strategies that can be adapted to different coastal cities, taking into account local contexts and challenges.

The future of Agricole activities and the preservation of soils require a combination of technological, policy, and practical approaches that focus on sustainable management, rehabilitation of degraded areas, and the prevention of further damage to soil health. These actions are crucial for maintaining ecosystem services, supporting agricultural productivity, and addressing global challenges like climate change and food security.