City governments and urban policy levers

2019, Ellen Macarthur Foundation

Governments, including city governments, can set the enabling conditions for circular economy transitions.

At least ten urban policy levers exist that city governments can use to address the challenges of a take-make-waste linear economy in cities.

In recent years, cities have become bolder in leading change. The use of circular economy principles can help nurture economic innovations that deliver on urban needs and eliminate structural and physical waste. The paper addresses questions such as:

• Why are cities centres for change and what role do city governments play?
• Which urban policy levers can help enable circular economy transitions in cities?
• How can city government cultures and approaches support such a transition?

In the paper, downloadable below, over 100 cases from more than 70 cities around the world are used to provide short, practical examples of the various policy measures city governments can use to bring about circular economy transitions.