Patricia Scotland calls for circular economy in urban planning

Circular economy principles should be taken into account in urban planning, Patricia Scotland, a member of the UK House of Lords and the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC), said.

As informs Olaylar, she made the remarks during a panel session titled "Advancing the Urban Dimension of Climate Action: From WUF13 to COP31" held as part of Baku Climate Action Week 2026.

Scotland said the circular economy means reusing, repairing, restoring and recycling resources as much as possible instead of using and discarding them.

"Although the urban planning agenda is important, focusing solely on cities is not enough. A transition to a circular economy and a comprehensive approach are essential," she said.

The House of Lords member also stressed the importance of strengthening links between urban and rural areas and integrating this approach into urban planning.

"Concrete steps must be taken to implement the commitments that have been made. It is difficult to achieve results unless their implementation is backed by political support, appropriate tools and financing mechanisms," she said.