🌍 Wrapping Up an Inspiring Week at ONS 2024 🌱Key takeaway: The power of tipping points!
As ONS 2024 concludes, it’s been inspiring to see how CircularNorway has brought the circular economy into the spotlight, offering fresh perspectives on linear risks, resilient value chains and circular business models 🌍🌱 We have engaged with an extraordinary group of decision-makers and stakeholders, including His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon, Minister of Energy Terje Aasland, Minister of Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani, along with numerous business leaders and environmental organization representatives. There’s a lot to reflect on from this week in Stavanger, but I’d like to focus on the concept of tipping points—those pivotal moments when small changes lead to rapid, often irreversible transformations. 🔄 Positive Tipping Points Varun Sivaram highlighted the importance of focusing on technology tipping points in the energy transition. As echoed by Jarand Rystad and Jenny Chase, we have already hit these critical tipping points globally for solar PV, batteries, and electric vehicles. 🚀 The rapid adoption of these technologies is accelerating exponentially, becoming self-sustaining and no longer reliant on subsidies. When progress in one sector drives advancements in another, we witness a cascade of tipping points across multiple sectors, pushing the energy transition forward. This raises a key question for my circular economy colleagues, Martijn Lopes Cardozo, Ivonne Bojoh, Walter R. Stahel and Vojtech Vosecky: Can we hope for similar tipping points for circular economy solutions? ♻️ 🚨 Negative Tipping Points On a more concerning note, it was disappointing to hear politicians and industry leaders at ONS advocate for opening more areas for oil and gas exploration. With science clearly showing that crossing climate tipping points can lead to catastrophic and irreversible changes, this approach not only increases the linear risks to Norway's economy but also threatens the progress and ambitions we have for a low-carbon society. 🤝 Thank You for the Conversations Thank you to everyone for the meaningful and insightful discussions this week. Together, let's envision circular value chains and work towards triggering positive, circular tipping points! Eirik Wærness Thina Margrethe Saltvedt Alexander Haneng Bjørn Arild Thon Danat Tekie Bjørn Kjærand Haugland Lene Elizabeth Hodge Ellen Høvik Leif I. Nordhus Rebekka Kvalsund Anja Ronesen Eyrún Gudjonsdottir Katarina J. Haugersveen Mari Larsen Sæther Ane Breivik Mille Marie Isaksen Lillemoen PM Karlsson Fredrik Andresen Jørg Aarnes Philip Hansteen