Organizational, societal, knowledge and skills capacity for a low carbon energy transition in a Circular Waste Bioeconomy (CWBE): Observational evidence of the Thessaly region in Greece

Advancing a Circular Waste Bioeconomy (CWBE) should be a priority over business-as-usual, entailing sustainable resource use in early and late stages of industrialization processes. The present paper is both descriptive and prescriptive. Firstly, it aims to explore the main barriers, challenges, opportunities, and the context within agro-biomass and agro-industrial waste valorization can accelerate a low carbon economy, in the Thessaly region of Greece, where agricultural production and agro-industrial business are the prevailing economic sectors. Secondly, organizational, societal, knowledge and skills capacity actions are suggested as the most likely to change the business-as usual scenarios. A SWOT analysis performed to draw useful conclusions about the extent to which CWBE principles can be integrated into the economic, social, and environmental life of the Thessaly region, and recommendations made of what it is needed. One of the key insights is how to leverage emerging low carbon circular economy for regional regenerative future. The results showed that waste is managed inefficiently in the region and there is a lack of synergies and collaborations between different stakeholders. The milestones of accelerating a low carbon CWBE for regional development, and employment are a) the territorial cohesion and regional symbiosis, b) increasing the financial market opportunities for small and critical projects, c) promoting awareness, public knowledge, skills, and the responsibility of young scientists and citizens. [Display omitted] •CWBE could provide a qualitative leap to the regional and national economy.•A model of key principles and a multi-capital approach is set for a regional CWBE.•The milestones of the acceleration to a low carbon CWBE were discussed.•Organizational, societal, knowledge and skills capacity building are suggested.•The Thessaly region in Greece provided the observational evidence as key location for a CWBE.