The CIRCTER update project has delivered granular, region-specific data that enables policymakers to monitor and analyse progress towards a circular economy at the regional level. The final report of the project provides critical insights into how circular territories can contribute to achieving climate neutrality and, with that, supportσ the European Union’s climate-neutrality ambitions. 

The report provides a comprehensive assessment of regional progress toward a circular economy. The report also presents a set of circular economy indicators focusing on key aspects such as material consumption, waste generation and consumption footprint. These indicators are provided at the NUTS 3 regional level, filling important gaps in the EU's monitoring framework.  

The report explains, for example, how regional material and consumption footprint indicators capture the broader impact of a region’s material usage and consumption levels, accounting for the entire life cycle of goods consumed. These indicators present a more holistic view of how consumption drives environmental impact, and they give valuable insights to help regions address resource dependencies and align their consumption with related sustainability targets.  

Finally, a methodological annex to the report offers a detailed description of the downscaling approach developed and used, including procedures for model selection and variable identification.  

Find more about the CIRCTER project