The Role of Institutions in Creating Circular Economy Pathways for Regional Development

In the past decade, the circular economy has gained attention as a mechanism of transition toward a regenerative, low carbon, and resource-efficient society. As the history of previous radical transformations shows, successful transition toward the circular economy cannot take place without understanding the institutional features of industrial transformations. This article highlights the significance of institutions by placing the circular economy model in the context of the natural resource–based sector and discusses the importance of institutions in regional path development. The article identifies three institutional determinants of both endogenous and directed transformation toward the circular economy model in the regional context: (i) proximity of physical flows and assets, (ii) maturation and diversity of market networks, and (iii) inherent values and patterns of cooperation. This article offers a starting point for future studies of circular economy transitions and the role of institutions as enabling, as well as at times obstructing transition environments.

Imperatives of Sustainable Development from the Perspective of Systems Transdisciplinary Approach

The article provides an attempt to solve the challenges of attaining the goals of the final document “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” by means of the systems transdisciplinary approach concept and methodology. To achieve this, the author expands the existing concept of chemical evolution and describes natural mechanisms of directed transformation of the planetary matter. The article reveals the meaning of cyclic recurrence of development of supercontinents in geological history of the planet leading to the formation of the planetary matter required for further active transformation of biological objects, which are supposed to take part in that transformation. The author assumes and substantiates that stable development is controlled by the planetary and extraplanetary objective organizing compounds, which present effective mechanisms of appraisal and compulsion of objects of living and non-living matter to strictly definite results of activity and interactions. He shows the results of long-term and medium-term modeling of the development of modern society. The conclusion of the article describes the possibility of using methodology of systems transdisciplinary approach in organizing sustainable development since 2016.