Prague on the Way Towards Implementing Circular Strategy
The successful completion of the approval process of strategy of the City of Prague transition to the circular economy by 2030 opened the way for the city to implement the projects included in this essential document.
Municipal companies, academic institutions, expert and consulting firms and individuals participated in the preparation of the Circular Prague 2030 text together with the City Hall. Then, in November 2021, the document was presented to the public for consultation. The strategy with incorporated public comments was approved by the Capital City Council and Assembly in January 2022. Prague can thus proceed to the implementation of the circular economy principles - the common building block of all projects included in the document.
The strategy comprises 76 actions within 37 projects, and it is structured into 7 thematic areas: building construction, water management, waste management, agriculture and land management and food production, public procurement, support for entrepreneurship, innovation and awareness-raising, management and implementation. These categories were identified by the authors of the document as the areas with the greatest potential for possible material savings, reduction of CO2 emissions and consumption of primary raw materials, on which the city focuses the greatest share of its attention.
The projects cover a wide range of aspects of life in the city and thus offer the possibility of applying the strategy across various spheres, including the meetings industry - for example, in projects focused on water management, waste management, support for innovation in food production, support for the sharing economy or educational and support programs for companies. The document itself can, to a significant extent, also serve Prague companies and organizations from the meetings and events sector as an inspiration and a basis for harmonizing their own sustainability strategies with the broader strategy of the city.
Approaches and activities, which can be described by the attribute “circular”, are not new in Prague: for example, re-use centers specializing in furniture, clothing, household goods, art materials, books or circular workshops are popular with residents. Other functioning projects and steps include community gardens, bio and food waste collection, multi-commodity and door-to-door waste sorting, and restrictions on the use of disposable packaging and products at events organized or supported by the city.
In order to successfully implement the strategy's plans, the city plans to establish a circular economy coordinator at the City Hall. Circular Prague 2030 counts with close coordination with other strategic documents of the city, and with securing finance from the resources of the Prague City Hall and European funds and programs.