Abstract

The rapidly increasing urbanization means increased demands on the management of limited resources, reduced wastage and alleviation of environmental pressure. The principles of a circular economy (CE) are a potential way-out of these issues as the former considers moving away towards the linear one of take- make-dispose, towards regenerative processes that aim to emphasise reuse, recycling, and resource efficiency. The paper outlines the manner in which circular economy practices are being incorporated into the governance of resources in cities concentrating on the close-loop activity in resources and strategies in energy, water, construction, and waste. Based on international case studies, the study points to the fact that cities are adopting new strategies like industrial symbiosis, urban mining, decentralized energy and digital platforms to share the resources. Governance, policy and stakeholder collaboration-the analysis highlights the role of governance, policy and stakeholder collaboration in facilitating circular transitions, and also looks at economic, social and environmental co-benefits. Especial emphasis is placed on the existence of systemic barriers to wide adoption, such as financial barriers, institutional inertia, and technological gaps. The paper places the commonalities and key success factors on the scaling of circular solutions by comparing application experience in different urban settings. Finally, the results indicate that integrating the principles of the circular economy into city planning not only means an increase in material efficiency but also raises resilience, green innovation and climate reduction targets. Closing the study, the authors suggest a model in which CE could be introduced into the decision-making process of municipal governments that focus on inter-sectoral synergies, participatory governance, and adaptive policy instruments. Through it, it offers policy, practitioner, and researcher recommendations to speed the shift to sustainable and regenerative cities.