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Circular Economy Principles

<keyword id="13135498" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gujarat-Titans" source="Orion">Gujarat Titans</keyword> have swiftly shed their newcomer status in the <keyword id="6354831" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Premier-League" source="Orion">Indian Premier League</keyword> (<keyword id="6354312" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL" source="Orion">IPL</keyword>) despite their relatively recent entry just two seasons ago. Their impressive debut season victory and subsequent second-place finish have firmly established their prowess on the cricket pitch. Now, they hope to emulate this excellence off the field as well, by embarking on a series of initiatives aimed at environmental sustainability and fostering a <keyword id="21195854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="circular-waste-economy" source="Orion">circular waste economy</keyword>. Embracing the adage ‘environmental stewardship starts at home’, Gujarat Titans have forged a strategic waste management alliance with <keyword id="1517498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nepra" source="Orion">Nepra</keyword> Resource Management Pvt. Ltd. (NEPRA) for their home games during the <keyword id="20898019" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TATA-IPL-2024" source="Orion">TATA IPL 2024</keyword> season at Ahmedabad's <keyword id="10818893" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi-Stadium" source="Orion">Narendra Modi Stadium</keyword>. This partnership focuses on <keyword id="6408774" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="waste-segregation" source="Orion">waste segregation</keyword>, recycling, and educating fans about sustainable waste management and hygienic practices, paving the way for a cleaner and greener stadium environment. In 2011, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) paved the way for sustainability-related initiatives, by donning a green uniform and planting trees to spread awareness. Other IPL franchises from across the country are also making strides in sustainability. Recent reports reveal that Chennai Super Kings have teamed up with IIT Madras to champion sustainable initiatives, while Rajasthan Royals have renewed their partnership with Schneider Electric, aiming to cultivate a community of environmentally aware individuals. The collaboration of Gujarat Titans with NEPRA, aiming for a "<keyword id="21195853" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zero-waste-to-landfills" source="Orion">zero waste to landfills</keyword>" objective, will centre on establishing a circular waste economy. NEPRA will take charge of the efficient collection and transportation of waste, leading initiatives to raise awareness among stadium stall operators. Additionally, mindful of the <keyword id="6404408" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="carbon-footprint" source="Orion">carbon footprint</keyword> of visiting fans, Gujarat Titans aim to minimise GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in the Scope 3 category. They plan to achieve this through collaboration with Gujarat Metro for transportation, the adoption of electric vehicles, and the use of public buses during the team's five home matches. Emphasising the team’s commitment to environmental stewardship through sustainability, GT COO Colonel Arvinder Singh said: “Responsible behaviour on and off the field is an integral part of our conduct at Gujarat Titans. We are alive to the challenges that all of us face and shall strive to make a difference with our sustainable initiatives. Our partnership with NEPRA will enable us to contribute significantly to waste reduction and encourage fans to preserve the environment while enjoying the games.” These initiatives mark a significant advancement from the Titans' previous endeavours during IPL 2023, where they focused on minimising waste sent to landfills and promoting plastic reuse through partnerships with organisations like Bisleri. The recycling of plastic into benches for schools exemplifies their dedication to community engagement and environmental conservation. Such concerted efforts of IPL franchises towards environmental sustainability are poised to inspire sports franchises and fans globally, setting a commendable precedent for collective action in promoting eco-conscious practices.

Batting for the environment: Gujarat Titans kickstart sustainability and circular waste economy initiatives

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> has been ranked 35th on a global index of countries best placed for leveraging <keyword id="20196166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="future-possibilities" source="keywords">future possibilities</keyword> while the <keyword id="6354868" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uk" source="Orion">UK</keyword> topped the list released here on Monday. The <keyword id="20196167" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="future-possibilities-index" source="Orion">Future Possibilities Index</keyword> (<keyword id="19979726" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fpi" source="keywords">FPI</keyword>), a flagship global future trends study released by Newsweek Vantage and <keyword id="20196165" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="horizon-group" source="keywords">Horizon Group</keyword> on sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, has Denmark, the US, the Netherlands and Germany in the top five after the UK. Among large emerging markets, <keyword id="1334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword> is placed highest at 19th this year, followed by <keyword id="6355226" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="brazil" source="Orion">Brazil</keyword> at 30th, India (35th) and South Africa (50th). The study compared the factors that will help governments, investors and other private sector stakeholders leverage six global, transformational trends for growth and wellbeing across 70 countries. These six global transformational trends are Exabyte Economy (advanced digital technologies), Wellbeing Economy (health prevention and wellness), Net Zero Economy (reduction of carbon emissions), <keyword id="19997312" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="circular-economy" source="keywords">Circular Economy</keyword> (recycling and reuse), BioGrowth Economy (food and agriculture innovations), and Experience Economy (consumption of experiences instead of physical goods). The combined business opportunity of all six trends is estimated at more than USD 44 trillion by 2030, more than 40 per cent of global GDP in 2023, the study said. The study used data from recognised international organizations as well as a survey of 5,000 business executives conducted for the project by <keyword id="20196164" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="phronesis-partners" source="keywords">Phronesis Partners</keyword>. These opportunities are likely to benefit the Global North more than the Global South in terms of economic growth and broader societal wellbeing and a strong industry base is needed to benefit, the report found. The international development community must help developing countries take full advantage of these opportunities by strengthening related industries, it added.

India ranked 35th for leveraging future possibilities; UK on top

<div type="image" title="One Planet Banner Test" height="138" width="1100" msid="101402909" hostid="261" sizebytes="5076"></div>Do you remember your very first cellphone?Where is it now? Maybe you passed it on to a friend, traded it in for an upgrade, or sold it. Maybe it's still lurking somewhere in your home, abandoned in a drawer.It takes a lot of resources to make a smartphone. It's estimated that the production of a typical smartphone uses around <a href="https://www.twosides.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/mind-your-step-report-76803.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">12,760 liters of water,</a> which is equivalent to around 160 bathtubs full of water. The manufacturing process is energy-intensive, too, with the production of an average smartphone emitting 60 kilograms of carbon dioxide, <a href="https://green-alliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Design_for_a_circular_economy.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Green Alliance</a>, an independent think tank focused on environmental policy. It's not just smartphone manufacturing that has a big environmental impact. <a href="https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to the Environmental Protection Agency,</a> manufacturing is the third-largest contributor to US greenhouse-gas emissions, after transportation and electric power. The sector also accounts for 25% of the nation's energy consumption.More often than not, the products we consume have been made from newly extracted materials. The amount of resources that we extract has <a href="https://www.circularity-gap.world/global" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than tripled since 1970</a>, with global material consumption totaling <a href="https://www.circularity-gap.world/2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than 100 billion tons every year.</a> But while consumption rates have shot up, recycling rates have remained low. Just <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/22/worlds-consumption-of-materials-hits-record-100bn-tonnes-a-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8.6% of the materials that we consume each year are recycled.</a><h2>Could a circular economy make a difference?</h2>Some industry leaders think there's a solution for cutting down on waste and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions at the same time: the circular economy. Try to visualize it. Right now, we have a linear system. We extract materials, make them into products, use the products, and then dispose of them. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a charity committed to creating a circular economy, calls this a <a href="https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"take-make-waste" system</a>. Think back to your first cellphone: It's probably at the "waste" stage right now.The idea of a circular economy is to take that "straight line" system and turn it into a closed loop. The basic idea is to keep materials in the loop for as long as possible. Imagine if components from your first cellphone were extracted and used in your current one, or if it was easy to upgrade and repair your first cellphone so you could still use it today.<a href="https://www.circularity-gap.world/global" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research by the Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative</a> found that only 7.2% of the global economy is currently circular.There are several ways to create a circular economy. It starts with designing products that last as long as possible and are easy to repair. Once a product can no longer be repaired, it can be remanufactured — which is when you disassemble a product and make a new version of the product with used parts. Recycling — when materials are repurposed into a new product and put back together again — is the final step. When you recycle, you are using waste as a resource.Alice Bodreau, the partnership lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said that there are three pillars of a circular-economy strategy: developing products that don't create waste and pollution, circulating the materials that you put on the market, and regenerating nature.Anne Velenturf, a senior research fellow at the University of Leeds, told Insider that adopting a circular economy does not mean that consumers lose out. "Research has shown that we can all still live a good-quality life when resources are better shared across society," she said.<h2>Waste is a resource</h2>Recycling doesn't just tackle our waste problem; it helps to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. That's because recycled materials skip a large part of the energy-intensive extraction and manufacturing process. The production of recycled steel, for instance, requires <a href="https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/completing-the-picture" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10% to 15% of the energy required to produce new steel.</a>The issue, though, is that not everything is easy to recycle. Think about the phone or computer that you're reading this article on. It's made up of lots of different materials and minerals.This problem is something that Peter Afiuny was thinking about when he cofounded the magnet-manufacturing company <a href="https://noveon.co" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Noveon</a>. "In the late '80s and early '90s, all of the stuff that we were consuming as a society started to become more complex in its product, in terms of the components that are used," Afiuny told Insider. "The waste industry didn't really catch up to how to extract the more critical components."Afiuny, who had previously worked in the recycling industry, wanted to find an efficient way to "surgically extract" components that would otherwise be discarded.Cue the creation of Noveon, a company that manufactures rare-earth magnets from recycled materials. According to Afiuny, postconsumer recycling rates for rare-earth magnetic materials are less than 3%. The traditional "mine-to-magnet" process consists of a lot of energy-intensive and waste-intensive steps and uses potentially dangerous chemicals. "We essentially invented a process that bypassed all of these upstream methods," Afiuny said.Many things need permanent magnets, including products that are essential for the green transition such as electric vehicles and wind turbines."Most of our magnetic materials come from end-of-life channels, so that includes motors, energy systems, medical devices, data-storage devices like hard disk drives," Afiuny said.Afiuny told Insider that he saw Noveon's manufacturing approach as part of a wider shift in the industry. "I think that there is just more generally a trend towards developing regional supply chains, especially as companies are becoming global entities and they're looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint," he said.<h2>Design matters</h2>Bodreau said that there's more to the circular economy than recycling."Recycling is like you have a water leak in your house and you just go and directly mop it up and try to mop everything up before doing anything else," she said. "While the circular economy is about putting the tap off and actually addressing the leak itself, and not just mopping the floor and keeping on mopping the floor forever and ever."One way to "turn the tap off" is through design. Bodreau said it's about "redesigning the way you operate and the way your product is designed that it will never end up as a leak in the world."That's the principle the electronics company <a href="https://www.fairphone.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fairphone</a> is putting into practice. Based in Amsterdam, the company manufactures just two types of products: smartphones and headphones. Their smartphones aren't glued shut and are easy to disassemble, which makes them much easier to repair."Seventy-five percent of the emissions connected to a smartphone occur during production," Anna Jopp, Fairphone's press officer, told Insider. "To us, this means that the most efficient way to reduce the emissions caused by smartphones is to produce less phones. And the way to achieve this is to use the phones we already have for as long as possible."If you keep your phone for five years instead of three you could reduce the phone's annual carbon footprint by 31%, Jopp said.Since phone longevity is key, Jopp said Fairfone tries to encourage people to keep their phones as long as possible by making products that are modular by design and easily repairable. "The longer a product is used, the fewer new products we need to manufacture and the less resources we use," she said.<h2>The renewable challenge</h2>The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that there will be <a href="https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/articles/we-need-to-talk-about-renewables-part-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">43 million tons of wind-turbine blade waste by 2050.</a> Meanwhile, the Renewable Energy Agency estimates that there will be up to <a href="https://www.irena.org/publications/2016/Jun/End-of-life-management-Solar-Photovoltaic-Panels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">78 million tons of solar-panel waste</a> by 2050. The renewable-energy industry presents a new challenge for the circular economy, and the UK company ReBlade is trying to get ahead of the game. ReBlade's cofounder Fiona Lindsay told Insider that the team wanted to stop material from wind turbines from going to landfills. While many parts of wind turbines can be recycled, the wind-turbine blades are made from fiberglass, a nonbiodegradable manufactured composite that is extremely difficult to recycle. The company is working on solutions to repurpose wind-turbine blades when they can no longer be used to generate power. Their flagship project uses decommissioned blades to create canopies that provide shelter at electric-vehicle charging points.Lindsay said that the "newness" of the sector was a big obstacle. "Until now, blades have only needed to come down in tiny numbers, perhaps because of damage," she said."In the years ahead, blades will come down in their thousands as whole wind-farm sites are repowered with bigger turbines," she said. "What that means is that the owner-operators of sites don't, as of yet, have standardized approaches to procurement or blade-removal operations.""It takes a tremendous amount of energy and resources to produce the blades in the first place, so we believe reusing them is a better option," Lindsay said.<h2>A 'win-win' solution</h2>Velenturf said that there were many benefits for companies adopting circular-economy principles, including accessing new markets and customers and increasing the security of material supplies, which reduces risks and costs.Policymakers are starting to catch on to circular solutions, too. In June, representatives from 180 countries met in Paris and discussed a global treaty to regulate plastics. Bodreau described the meeting as a "big, big way forward." Meanwhile, New York state's recent <a href="https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-digital-fair-repair-act-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Digital Fair Repair Act</a> aims to make it easier for consumers to access the parts and information needed to repair their electronic devices.For Lindsay, the circular approach is a no-brainer. "We have a finite amount of resources so we need to find innovative new ways to reuse resources through second- or even third-life uses after they have been used in their initial applications — a win-win for everybody."This article is part of "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/the-great-transition" rel="">The Great Transition</a>," a series covering the big changes across industries that are leading to a more sustainable future. For more climate-action news, visit Insider's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/one-planet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Planet</a> hub.

How the circular economy could solve the smartphone-waste problem — and curb the manufacturing industry's carbon footprint, too

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Luxury retailer <keyword id="11926319" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coach" source="Orion">Coach</keyword> was exposed for destroying unsold items in a viral <keyword id="11894125" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tiktok" source="Orion">Tiktok</keyword> posted on Saturday. </li><li>In the video, activist Anna Sacks showcases bags bought from a dumpster diver with slashes in them. </li></ul>Luxury retailer Coach said it will stop slashing and dumping <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CU6FY_DgZft/">"unsalable" merchandise in an Instagram statement</a> on Tuesday after the practice was exposed in a viral TikTok. On Saturday, TikToker and waste reduction and diversion expert Anna Sacks, who runs the popular Instagram account <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thetrashwalker/">@thetrashwalker</a>, posted an <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thetrashwalker/video/7016830633045478662">unboxing video on TikTok</a> showcasing a haul of Coach purses.In the video, 30-year-old Sacks tells viewers she bought the merchandise, which all appear to have slash marks, from <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dumpsterdivingmama?lang=en">Texas-based TikToker Tiffany Sheree</a> who resells items she finds dumpster diving. "They're all slashed, which is Coach's policy," she says in the TikTok, which has gotten over 2.4 million views at the time of writing. "They order an employee to deliberately slash it so no one can use it, and then they write it off as a tax write-off under the same tax loophole as if it were accidentally destroyed."Sacks then goes on to call out the brand for its public-facing stance toward sustainability. "According to their website, they really care about the <keyword id="12307380" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="circular-economy" source="Orion">circular economy</keyword> and they really care about sustainability," she says, pointing out <a href="https://uk.coach.com/coach-responsibility-planet.html">a slogan on Coach's website</a> that reads: "Don't ditch it, repair it."Sacks told Insider she became aware of Coach's dumping practices in 2020 while putting together <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHfoVZVlhQv/">a TikTok series called "Retail Made Me,"</a> in which former industry staff shared their experiences of being asked to destroy a brand's merchandise.Coach's actions were "especially egregious because of their claims about sustainability and circular economy," Sacks said. Following the criticism, Coach published a statement via Instagram saying it is committed to sustainability. It reads: "We have now ceased destroying in-house returns of damaged and unsalable goods and are dedicated to maximizing such products reuse in our Coach Re(Loved) and other circularity programs.""We will continue to develop and implement solutions to responsibly repurpose, recycle, and reuse excess or damaged products," the statement added.Tapestry, Coach's parent company, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. In a statement to Fashionista.com on Tuesday, a Coach spokesperson said the brand is "committed to leading with purpose and embracing our responsibility as a global fashion brand to effect real and lasting change for our industry," before saying <a href="https://fashionista.com/2021/10/coach-destroying-unsold-products-viral-tiktok">the products being destroyed in-house</a> represented "less than 1% of global sales." Joon Silverstein, Head of Digital and Sustainability for Coach, <a href="https://wwd.com/sustainability/business/coach-damaged-bags-tiktok-trashwalker-response-1234974445/">also told WWD on Tuesday</a>: "It's unfortunate these posts came out now, because we had been doing this thoughtfully."The company's response is "limited" and deflects from the issue she was raising, according to Sacks. "It's focused on the in-store returns," she told Insider, which is a "portion of what they destroy.""It doesn't include if they have inventory that comes in and they see that the stitching is not up to their standards, they will still destroy that," she added. "If something is in-store and it gets scratched, that might also not live up to their standards so they'll destroy that."Sacks said Coach has not contacted her yet, but that she would be "happy to have a conversation with them.""I recognize that they're not the only company that does this," she added.

Coach says it will stop destroying and dumping unsold bags after a viral TikTok exposed the practice

New Delhi, Jun 5 () The European Union wants to work with India on issues of resource efficiency and circular economy, a European Commission official said on Friday. Astrid Schomaker, Director, Global Sustainable Development, Directorate General for Environment, European Commission Brussels, said the EU is looking forward to engaging with India as it moves towards the presidency of the G-20 in 2022. She was speaking at a webinar on 'Resource efficiency for greening of recovery and fostering sustainable economic growth in a resource constrained world'. "We urge all international partners to look forward to putting in place more robust and green national recovery strategies. This will give our societies a sense of direction and purpose towards more sustainability and therefore it is good to see that India has announced a significant post-COVID economic stimulus package with inclusion of resource efficiency into strategies across various sectors," she said. Schomaker further said COVID-19 has demonstrated the need for the world to come together to fight it but also rebuild their economies and EU stands ready to work with India to scale up our partnership by exchanging knowledge, expertise and creating more business opportunities. "This is the context with which we are working towards the second phase of the resource efficiency initiative to follow up on the ongoing work," she said. "The broader EU-India partnership on resource efficiency and circular economy is also more important than ever so let us give it the profile it deserves and ensure that it has the backing of the political leaders by formally adopting it at the next India-EU summit," she said. R P Gupta, Secretary at the Environment Ministry, said the ministry is partnering with the EU on resource efficiency under the joint declaration of intent with EU-REI initiative. "The Indian government has recognised the need for integrated resource efficiency. In this regard the ministry has formulated a draft policy for resource efficiency that aims to provide an overarching policy framework to enable efficient use of resources and upcycling of wastes across all sectors," he said. Noting that the green economy is a development strategy that harmonises both economic development and ecological sustainability, Gupta said the actions aimed at driving the economy have to be so designed that they yield results in the short as well as medium and long terms. "Resource efficiency provides opportunities that not only address resource constraint and environment concerns but also drive transformative benefits for business," he said. UZM RDM RDM

EU wants to work with India on resource efficiency & circular economy: European Commission official

<ul><li>Speaking at a FICCI event, <keyword id="2665691" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Niti-Aayog">Niti Aayog</keyword> CEO <keyword id="6358887" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amitabh-kant">Amitabh Kant</keyword> said India’s <keyword id="2966117" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="circular-economy">circular economy</keyword> will create 14 million jobs in the next 5-7 years. </li><li>India is already a leader in circular economy investments. </li><li>Sustainable development and resource circularity is an inescapable necessity today.</li></ul>Amidst India’s looming job crisis, the country’s circular economy will create 14 millions in the next 5-7 years, said Amitabh Kant, CEO of think tank NITI Aayog. Circular economy refers to an economic system which prioritizes waste management and maximum utilization of resources. “By 2050, world population would reach 9.7 billion of which 3 billion people would prosper to middle class consumption level. This would require 71% more resources per capita, thereby raising total mineral and material demand from 50 billion tonnes in 2014 to 130 billion tonnes in 2050,” said Kant, speaking at an event by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Between economy and ecology Kant also pointed out that India is the fourth largest producer of e-waste in the world. He also suggested that India needs a reconciliation between economy and ecology. Sustainable development and resource circularity is an inescapable necessity today said the NITI Aayog CEO. The effects of avoiding optimum utilization of resources will be high as well. “The corresponding economic impact of these current trends could induce price volatility and supply chain interruptions in critical and strategic materials, leaving a $4.5 trillion loss in global economic growth which could rise to $25 trillion by 2050,” he added. According to a <a href="https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/india-leading-among-developing-nations-in-circular-economy-investments-chatham-house/69447351">report</a> released by London’s Chatham House, India is leading in circular economy investments made by developing nations. The report says that India can save $218 billion of its GDP by promoting circular economy. India’s urban population of over 377 million generate 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste every year, according to a report by <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/waste/india-s-challenges-in-waste-management-56753">Down to Earth</a>, Meanwhile, India’s waste management industry is <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/04/17/1805220/0/en/India-14-Bn-Waste-to-Energy-and-Waste-Management-Market-to-2025.html">reported </a>to have reached $14 billion by 2025. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Heres-how-much-an-IT-employee-makes-in-different-countries/articleshow/69739244.cms">Here’s how much an IT employee makes in different countries</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-draft-national-education-policy-one-common-admission-entrance-test/articleshow/69825504.cms">India may have one common exam for all college admissions – if the draft National Education Policy is passed</a>

India can create 14 million jobs by investing in sustainable development

<ul><li>The first G20 environment meeting under G20 <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> Presidency will be held from February 9-11 in Bengaluru.</li><li>Officials said that four meetings of the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) are scheduled to be hosted by the <keyword id="151298" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ministry-of-environment" source="Orion">Ministry of Environment</keyword>, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC).</li></ul>New Delhi, The first G20 environment meeting under G20 India Presidency will be held from February 9-11 in Bengaluru. Officials said that four meetings of the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) are scheduled to be hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC). The discussions at ECSWG will focus on the agenda 'Promotion of Blue Economy along with Coastal Sustainability', 'Restoration of Degraded Lands and Ecosystems' and 'Enhancement of Biodiversity' and 'Strengthening of Circular Economy'. India will be holding the Presidency of G20 for one year till November 30, 2023. The forum will bring together the G20 member countries, guest countries and international organisations invited by India. Through the Sherpa Track, 13 <keyword id="442252" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="working-groups" source="Orion">Working Groups</keyword> and two initiatives will meet under India's Presidency to discuss priorities and provide recommendations. Environment, Climate &amp; Sustainability is one of the working groups under the Sherpa Track. Leading to the first meeting in Bengaluru, Mysuru Zoo in coordination with Central Zoo Authority organised a Two-Day National Conference for Zoo Directors of India on January 18 and 19. Officials said that the conference mainly focused on "Master Planning and Building the National Capacity for species Management &amp; Conservation Breeding." In this conference, 59 participants from 25 states and a union territory participated. It was inaugurated by the Mayor of Mysuru City corporation and succeeded in drawing attention to conservation practices. The G20 delegates are scheduled to visit the Kalkere Arboretum and Bannerghatta Biological Park at Bengaluru. At Kalkere, the delegates will have an opportunity to visualise and experience four predominant forest ecosystems of Karnataka state. The <keyword id="6432810" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="state-forest-department" source="Orion">State Forest Department</keyword> will also showcase the forest restoration models adopted in these ecosystems and the successful revival of faunal biodiversity in these areas. The Bannerghatta Biological Park will showcase the state-of-art butterfly park and animal safaris to the delegates. The Karnataka Forest Department will also highlight the flagship ecotourism model, the <keyword id="16192181" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="jungle-lodges-resort" source="Orion">Jungle Lodges Resort</keyword>, which is extremely popular for nature lovers, globally. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/for-the-first-time-in-history-an-ai-bot-will-reportedly-defend-a-human-in-court/articleshow/96785418.cms">For the first time in history, an AI bot will reportedly defend a human in court</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/these-audio-setting-tweaks-can-make-music-sound-better-on-spotify/articleshow/96876010.cms">These audio setting tweaks can make music sound better on Spotify</a>

G20's ECSWG to focus on promotion of Blue Economy alongwith Coastal Sustainability

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Over the last two years, the underfunded and understaffed <keyword id="6359816" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="irs" source="Orion">IRS</keyword> was swamped with new responsibilities.</li><li>The result was a backlog of <keyword id="12738463" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tax-returns" source="Orion">tax returns</keyword>, with millions of Americans still waiting for their 2020 refunds.</li></ul>Melanie Jones Owen is dejected.The 47-year-old business owner from California is one of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tax-refund-delays-irs-taxpayers-waiting-on-returns-2022-1">millions</a> of Americans still waiting on a <keyword id="13031388" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tax-refund" source="Orion">tax refund</keyword> from 2020, after filing her return in March 2021. She's waiting on over $16,000 — money that could help keep her pandemic-shaken engineering business afloat. "At a time when my world is devastated beyond words because of this pandemic, I cannot even count on the IRS to do the job that they are sworn to do," Owen said. During the pandemic, the IRS <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tax-season-outlook-analysis-difficult-refunds-delayed-irs-understaffed-2022-1">dealt with a perfect storm</a> of new responsibilities, paired with <a href="https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/budget-blues-tax-administration?cm_ven=ExactTarget&amp;cm_cat=DD+01142020&amp;cm_pla=All+Subscribers&amp;cm_ite=https%3a%2f%2fwww.taxpolicycenter.org%2ftaxvox%2fbudget-blues-tax-administration&amp;cm_lm=robert.frank@nbcuni.com&amp;cm_ainfo=&amp;&amp;utm_source=%20urban_newsletters&amp;&amp;utm_medium=news-DD&amp;&amp;utm_term=TPC&amp;&amp;">underfunding</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/irs-tax-season-problems-ahead-delayed-refunds-2022-1">understaffing</a>. The result is a backlog of millions of unprocessed tax returns, leaving some Americans waiting for nearly a year to get refund checks that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/irs-tax-refund-delays-hurt-americans-finances-struggle-pay-bills-2022-2">help them afford</a> groceries, childcare, and even their homes. As millions of Americans sort through their 2021 documents in preparation of filing a new return, many are hoping this year's checks don't get caught up for months in a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-irs-worker-trying-to-get-you-your-tax-refund-2022-3">stack of papers at IRS headquarters</a>."I'm concerned, because if I go ahead and do my taxes now, is it going to hurt the ones I'm still waiting on?" Owen said. "Is it going to throw the system off?"<div type="image" title="Melanie Jones Owen" height="1443" width="1920" msid="90804563" hostid="261"></div><h2>"You're just stuck in absolute and complete limbo"</h2>During the pandemic, the IRS accumulated a historic backlog of returns.At the end of 2021, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/national-taxpayer-advocate-delivers-annual-report-to-congress-focuses-on-taxpayer-impact-of-processing-and-refund-delays">said</a> 6.2 million individual returns remain unprocessed.But they are chipping away at that pile: Commissioner Chuck Rettig testified at an April 7 Congressional hearing that the agency still had 2.7 million paper returns filed in 2021 in their inventory."Paper is the IRS's kryptonite, and the agency is still buried in it," Collins <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/national-taxpayer-advocate-delivers-annual-report-to-congress-focuses-on-taxpayer-impact-of-processing-and-refund-delays">said</a> in her annual report. Laura Spencer's <keyword id="13064657" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tax-return" source="Orion">tax return</keyword> is likely somewhere in those piles of paper.The 40-year-old Georgia-based data analyst sat down with her new husband in April 2021 to file their tax return jointly for the first time. It got rejected. They dealt with a circular series of events involving an anti-identity theft pin that never arrived and one of the IRS's biggest customer service issues in 2021: reaching an agent on the phone. In 2021, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/national-taxpayer-advocate-delivers-annual-report-to-congress-focuses-on-taxpayer-impact-of-processing-and-refund-delays">according to Collins</a>, the IRS received a record number of phone calls — and only about 11% were answered. After two months of trying, Spencer got through and learned she had to mail in the return. She said they did that in September, and there's been no sign of it since. Treasury officials <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/3-ways-avoid-refund-delays-tax-season-irs-tax-filing-2022-1">have warned</a> taxpayers away from filing on paper if at all possible, as the IRS sits on a mountain of paper.The couple is waiting on a little over $11,000. In the last year, Spencer lost her job and her husband started a business that he later shut down. Spencer said she believes it could've stayed afloat if they had more money for him to hire employees: "Having an extra $11,000 would've gotten us a really long way."To cover health expenses and rent, she said, they borrowed money from relatives, took out a loan, and cashed out a small 401K."You're just stuck in absolute and complete limbo," Spencer said. She's employed now, and said she already filed her 2021 taxes. If both refunds came tomorrow, she said, the total would pay off everything they've borrowed.<h2>"You got to laugh not to cry"</h2>The IRS <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/irs-tax-refund-delays-all-hands-on-deck-approach-2022-3">has outlined</a> its attempts to get back on track, which includes everything from hiring 10,000 employees to implementing callback software.But that hasn't changed anything for Isabelle Ertl. Texas-based Ertl, 21, works two jobs — one as a cashier and another as a sales associate. In 2020, she was working a full-time job and two part-time jobs. "Money was tight," she said. <div type="image" title="Isabelle Ertl" height="2208" width="1200" msid="90804564" hostid="261"></div>The $2,200 she says she was supposed to receive from her 2020 tax refund would've been a "big help.""It's either pay my bills, fix my truck, or not eat for the time," Ertl said. "So that money would've helped everything."She's still waiting for her refund. She said that she called the IRS every day for about a month to try to get through."My parents, they've already gotten their taxes back for this year, and my whole family and all my friends have gotten their taxes back for this year, but I still haven't gotten them back from last year," Ertl said. When it comes to the IRS's backlog, "they shouldn't be that backtracked if they can get 'em out this year and not finish up last year's." Ertl is expecting another refund this year, but is worried she won't get it: "I still severely need it."In prepared testimony, Rettig — the IRS commissioner — said that the IRS realized taxpayers waiting on 2020 refunds are wondering if they should wait to file 2021 returns. "Our message to these individuals is that they can file their 2021 return when they are ready," Rettig said in his <a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/IRS%20Commissioner%20CPR%20testimony%20SFC%20filing%20season%20040722%20.pdf">testimony</a>. Electronic filers "should validate their 2021 electronic tax return by entering $0" for their adjusted gross income (AGI) from last year. People who hadn't filed before, but signed up to receive child tax credit checks or stimulus checks, should put $1 for their AGI.Rettig <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/irs-chief-irs-will-get-through-backlog-refunds-before-december-2022-3">has said</a> the backlog should be cleared by December. When Spencer called the IRS — she finally got through by following the advice of a website that told her what numbers to push to get around getting put on hold — she asked how her 2021 return could be verified and processed if 2020 is still sitting in the pile. As a data analyst, she said it makes sense for things to go in a chronological order, like processing a tax return for 2020 before 2021.The representative told her that the IRS doesn't recommend filing your taxes late, because she didn't want to incur any potential penalties if she owed money. "You got to laugh not to cry because, well, what about the money you guys have of mine?" Spencer said. "Like, are you gonna pay me interest in penalties because you haven't processed my return yet?"

As taxes come due, millions of Americans are still waiting on their refunds from last year

Humanity could be waste-free if we lived in a Circular Economy — here's how it would work

<ul><li>Business Insider <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword> spoke to Teresa Domenech, co-director of Circle, UCL's Circular Economy lab.</li><li>Domenech told us the ways in which a Circular Economy could prevent waste and change the way we think about design.</li><li>She believes that a 100% Circular Economy is achievable.</li></ul> Read the full transcript below:Teresa Domenech: Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to really own a car, own a house, or own a phone. What if we just use what we need in the way we need it and then when we no longer need it or when we need something else we just change it easily.Hello, my name is Teresa Domenech, I work at UCL university college London and I am co-director of UCL's Circular Economy lab.The economy that we have right now is based around taking resources, consuming them and then disposing them as waste. There are two main problems to the Linear Economy, one problem is the amount of the volume of resources that are consumed and the energy that is used to transform those resources into products.The other problem is at the other end is the amount of waste that this produces. The idea of the Circular Economy is to try to address those issues. First reduce the amount of resources that we extract from the earth and the other one is to use those resources more efficiently by creating closer loops that maintain those resources in the productive cycles for longer, rather than wasting them.A mobile phone is something that we have. Everyone has one or several phones and we use it every day all the time, if we look at a mobile phone within the linear economy, the way it works is you just buy a new phone, you use it for a period of time and that period of time is getting shorter and shorter and then you change it because you want to upgrade to a new model.But actually to produce that phone you have extracted tonnes and tonnes of materials. They are very difficult to extract and they are actually creating a number of environmental issues along the way.If we look at the Circular Economy we will see a completely different system. First of all, we wouldn't necessarily have to buy a phone, we could lease a phone from a manufacturer. That phone will have been designed in a way that can be easily repaired and upgraded so you don't need to actually change your mobile phone just because you cannot upgrade it anymore.So you could easily upgrade to new technology using your existing phone. It doesn't make sense that we have a phone that we cannot open and we cannot repair.Right now products are not really designed to be reused and manufactured, they are designed to be used and then disposed of, so we need to rethink how we design products.We will design products differently if we knew that those products were going to come back to us as manufacturers and we could extract value from them and create new products from them. So I think rethinking the whole design system is really important, it's really key.Produced by <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/author/charlie-floyd">Charlie Floyd</a>

Humanity could be waste-free if we lived in a Circular Economy - here's how it would work

Inside the epicenter of America's Great Resignation: Kentuckians lay out the 4 forces driving the state's labor shortage — and explain why it's here to stay

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Humanity could be waste-free if we lived in a Circular Economy — here's how it would work

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