Abstract Summary
Sports and healthcare relate to 40% of the national economy of the Netherlands, as an example for many western countries These sectors are both in an linear status in terms of material, water and energy use. In addition, an unbalance exists between the agricultural and nature area's around cities and the build environment in the cities, in terms of food , water, material and energy provision, and the return of used products to renewed resources. By restoring circularity between urban and rural environment, carbon footprint reduction, mitigation of floods and water shortage and sustainable energy provision can be arranged. This session will be discussing lines of transitions to Circular Society, pitching examples of running research programs such as ESCH-R (Circular Hospital), AquaConnect (Circular Water) , Circular Sports (Water and Energy) and projects related to Urban Rural Circularity. In three "World Café" discussion and cocreation rounds we will design together the short term and long term transition pathways for these sectors. After this we will have a plenary discussion on the potentials to transform to circularity for Western economies, and global South economies. What are the opportunities and threats? Is green growth the pathway to sustainability for all economies of the world?
