Cities are rapidly growing – Prague’s population alone has jumped by 11% in the past 40 years – while being the hotspots of resource use and global greenhouse gas emissions. Current farming practices across Europe are mostly GHG emissions-intensive, contributing to a loss of grassland biodiversity and using dangerous pesticides, resulting in the pollution of water supplies.

Dozens of circular economy projects are being developed by the city of Prague, mainly focusing on four thematic areas – construction, water management, agriculture and waste – based non the city’s climate strategy, which was approved by representatives at the end of May 2021 and includes 73 measures to meet carbon neutrality by 2050.

To save water and prevent water leaks, the city will implement measures in water management, while using rainwater for irrigation or residual heat from wastewater for heating. Besides, the city is now leasing 500 hectares of its city-owned agricultural land to encourage farmers in using only organic and circular agricultural principles (no pesticides, fungicides, using organic fertilisers and crop rotation) to protect the water supplies, among many other benefits.

Alongside, the city is setting several goals and initiatives, provides information and supports committed stakeholders through public procurement, in other thematic areas (construction, agriculture, waste).

The city will have to invest about 230 billion crowns (~9 billion euros), mostly originating from European funds, in the measures aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2030.

After mobilizing Circle Economy’s Circle City Scan, Prague’s circular transition is now well underway. Besides protecting water supplies, organic and circular agricultural practices are contributing to diversify the city’s food supply, foster biodiversity, reduce packaging needs and shorten supply chains. Prague has recently become a trailblazer in establishing a local circular economy. Thanks to political endorsement and stakeholders’ management, the circular economy was able to make its way into daily decision-making processes.

Photo by Dmitry Goykolov on Unsplash