RETHINKING SUSTAINABILITY: LINKING ENERGY TRANSITION AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN A CHANGING GLOBAL CONTEXT

Resumen

The growing urgency of climate change and the increasing pressure on natural resources have led to a renewed focus on how energy systems and production models are structured. In this context, the transition towards cleaner energy sources is often presented as a key solution for improving environmental outcomes. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that energy transition alone may not be sufficient to achieve broader sustainability goals. This study takes a step back and examines how sustainability can be better understood when energy transition is considered together with circular economy practices. Rather than treating these two areas as separate policy domains, the study adopts an integrated perspective and explores how they interact and potentially reinforce each other. Drawing on recent academic studies and international policy discussions, the analysis suggests that improvements in energy systems—such as increasing the share of renewable energy or enhancing energy efficiency—tend to have a positive effect on environmental performance. At the same time, circular economy practices, including resource efficiency, recycling, and the reuse of materials, appear to play a complementary role by reducing overall resource demand and supporting more sustainable production systems. The findings highlight that meaningful progress in sustainability is more likely to be achieved when energy transition is supported by changes in material use and production patterns. This paper is also shaped by the increasing policy discussions around sustainability transitions, particularly in the European context. From a policy perspective, this implies that strategies focusing solely on energy may overlook important dimensions of sustainability. Instead, a more integrated approach—one that brings together energy, resource efficiency, and circularity—may offer a more effective pathway towards long-term sustainable development. This integrated perspective contributes to the growing debate on sustainable development by highlighting the importance of aligning energy and resource systems.