Policy and Governance

Presentation

This is the ACR+ cross-cutting Thematic Area, given its interlinkages with all other themes. As the name suggests, there are two main pillars:

  • The first revolves around the various instruments that local and regional authorities have at their disposal to foster the circular economy. These tools encompass a wide array of competences, ranging from land use planning to waste management. We also promote soft measures, such as empowering local sustainable businesses and engaging with citizens to raise awareness on critical topics.
  • The second refers to the different governance levels working together for better policy making. Thus, it refers to the work needed to empower local and regional authorities vis a vis national and EU level, matching their responsibilities with their resources already from the policy design stage.

Activities

ACR+ is currently working on this area through:

  • The EPR Club where ACR+ is connecting the EU level policy makers and local authorities to explore relevant issues, peer learning opportunities for better policy and participating to numerous projects that developed policy recommendations pertinent for local, regional as well as EU level policy makers.
  • As part of our services, we review regional waste management plans for interested members (Brussels, Dublin as an example).
  • Our benchmarking and technical studies are about common challenges that policy makers have to face in different fields (e.g textiles, waste collection, pay-as-you-throw) and they aim to support LRAs in better policy making.
  • ACR+ provides capacity building on the topic of circular and innovative procurement. For instance, through the C-PRONE initiative, ACR+ aims to enable and facilitate international sharing between the existing networks, initiatives and relevant actors to unlock successful circular procurement.
  • ACR+ is also monitoring EU level developments and prepares accessible short pieces of information through its EU Digest on a regular basis.

Get involved!

Interested in the topic? You can have a look at the following resources: