CELEST Project: Exploring Circular Economy Through Land Conservation
The CELEST project is a pioneering initiative that delves into the circular economy through the lens of land conservation, a critical issue for modern metropolises. One of the project's primary focuses is the redevelopment of urban wasteland. By identifying key policies, selection criteria, and by promoting best practices the CELEST project aims to transform unused urban spaces into sustainable and productive areas.
To further explore these issues, an open seminar is planned for the end of 2025. This event will bring together professional and academic experts from partner universities within the alliance, fostering a collaborative environment to discuss and address the challenges and opportunities in land conservation and circular economy.
Origins and Evolution of the CELEST Project
The CELEST project traces its roots back to the ENGAGE.EU Think Tank held in March 2023 in Bergen (NHH). Inspired by their initial contacts, a group of researchers decided to capitalize on ENGAGE.EU's first call for seed funding. They submitted a proposal centered around land sustainability, which eventually grew into the CELEST project.
Initially starting with just two researchers, the team expanded to five, representing institutions such as UT Capitole, Hanken, UNWE, Luiss, and WU. This growth was facilitated by a collaboration opportunity posted on the ENGAGE.EU research community platform, which attracted more researchers to the cause.
The project has actively engaged external partners from Austria, Finland, France and Germany. These collaborations are crucial for understanding the practical implications, to tailor the research to the needs.
Current Initiatives and Key Focus Areas
Researchers involved in the CELEST project recently launched a survey to better understand the needs and priorities of external partners regarding sustainable land use. The feedback highlighted brownfield rehabilitation as a key focus area. Many stakeholders emphasized the importance of "Land sobriety in real estate: Developing land efficiency and circular economy" and stressed the need to combat urban sprawl by reusing existing buildings and promoting urban densification.
The circular economy model, which emphasizes sharing, reuse, and recycling, is integral to the CELEST project. Recycling land is a vital part of this dynamic. The concept of "sober land use" involves re-naturalizing urban areas, combating land artificialization, and protecting soils. This has been a growing concern for regions and metropolises for several years and is now gaining traction as a European issue.
Brownfield sites offer one of the most promising avenues for contributing to sustainable regional development and fostering more virtuous urban planning practices. The redevelopment of these sites is a powerful tool for local authorities to address the major challenges of the ecological transition, including:
- Mitigating climate change
- Reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions
- Preserving biodiversity and natural resources
- Enhancing soil health and protecting public health
Upcoming Conference and Future Goals
The primary objectives of the December 2025 conference, to be held at the University of Toulouse Capitole, include identifying the impacts of sober land use on external partners, sharing initiatives and highlighting levers for action. This exchange aims to synthesize European approaches into a comprehensive handbook, disseminating best practices and substantiating land sobriety on a European scale.
At a time when European environmental protection legislation is at risk of being undermined, highlighting voluntary commitments is more crucial than ever. The CELEST project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in driving sustainable land use and circular economy practices.