It was confirmed recently that Scotland is facing changes to its climate more rapidly than we anticipated.
Reports from the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen suggest that environmental shifts predicted for the next three decades are already under way.
In these reports, scientists predicted potential summer and autumn temperature increases of up to 4°C in the coming decades. While, for many, this might not sound like much, every degree increase has a huge impact on our planet.
Dr Mike Rivington, who led this research, summarised it perfectly: Scotland is currently experiencing a climate breakdown.
But while this might sound alarming, I believe Scotland has great opportunity to counter these trends. To do that, we must reflect on how we consume things, break old habits, and create new, more sustainable, ways of living and operating.
This is possible through a circular economy.
At present, approximately four-fifths of Scotland's carbon footprint is attributed to the lifecycle of products and services. In other words, we consume too much. And this puts an incredible amount of pressure on the planet.
The solution? A paradigm shift from the traditional, linear, model of "take, make, dispose" to a more regenerative and restorative system, known as the circular economy. At its core lies the concept of keeping products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible, extracting their maximum value.
Our nation, with its rich history of environmental leadership, can champion this innovative and sustainable economic model. With these recent findings unveiled, we should embrace a circular economy as a sound solution to alleviating our impact on the planet.
And Scotland is already putting landmark powers and solutions in place to help us all become fully circular. The upcoming Circular Economy Bill and Route Map aim to provide the legislative framework and solutions to usher us along that transition. Helping citizens and businesses in Scotland and beyond with the required support for increased reuse and recycling rates, and modernised waste and recycling services.
Ultimately, it will help Scotland reduce its carbon emissions and keep temperatures from increasing further.
Our commitment to the circular economy is not just a legislative formality, but a critical strategy to combat climate change effectively.
By embracing a more sustainable way of living, we will not only mitigate environmental impacts but also foster a more resilient way of life for current and future generations. As the Circular Economy Bill progresses, Scotland stands at the forefront of a transformative movement that could serve as a model for global climate action.
Iain Gulland is Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland
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