Smart sustainable cities: synergies between circular economy, innovative policies and European projects

Abstract: Metropolitan cities trying to respond to a locally-embedded global challenge: to implement a sustainable use of natural resources in order to avoid potential dramatic environmental scenarios. Metropolitan Cities could become a front-runner city in this field, if it demonstrates to be able to support its existing adaptive and transformative governance capacities. The goals and results achieved in the on-going Metropolitan City EU funded projects are described as “soft” policy tools for describing the thesis argued in the paper. Circular Economy, Green Economy (Green growth) and Bio economy have a common finalistic aspect: find a common ground for both economic, environmental and social goals. The Metropolitan Strategic Plan could represent a significant model for other Public Bodies. Indeed, this case study aims at demonstrating how strategic lines of intervention in trans-sectorial policies may be identified, such as for instance those related to the development of Circular Economy. The borders of Metropolitan cities functional urban area bound all the paper findings. The political recommendations stated represent an inspiring case study on how economic development can materialize in vision-oriented and strategically planned interventions.