Veolia at the Le Havre LH Forum: "the territories are major players in the circular economy"
From 27 to 29 September in Le Havre, the "International Meeting of Positive Cities and Territories" brought together experts from around the world - representatives of cities and regions, business leaders, heads of associations, artists, and scientists - and the general public, around the theme of the positive and sustainable transition of territories.
Pierre Victoria, Veolia's Director of Sustainable Development, took part in the round table: "Territories, major players in the circular economy".
The circular economy promotes cooperation between all actors in the territory
Veolia operates its activities - water, energy and waste management - in local circular economy loops: for example wastewater treated in treatment plants produces sludge that is used as a source of renewable energy, which can supply cities with electricity or heating.
For Pierre Victoria, "it means breaking down silos by reconnecting the various services in the territorial organizations with business and renewing relations with citizens. The barriers needing to be removed are not only technological. It is about evolving ways of cooperating."
A player in the territories, Veolia drives circular economy loops worldwide. In Pécs in Hungary for example, agricultural biomass from farms in the region is used. In France, the energy consumed by the aquatic centre in Arras is produced from the calories present in the urban area’s wastewater. In Le Havre, Veolia recovers industrial waste energy from 350 companies (8 Gwh of electricity and 300,000 t of steam), thereby avoiding the emission of 120,000 t of CO2 per year.
Mutual aid: the other "law of the jungle" - debate with the winner of the Veolia Foundation's 2018 Environment Book Prize
During the LH Forum, Veolia Foundation organized a meeting-debate with the winner of the 2018 Environment Book Prize, the first environment-issue-related literary prize in France.
Pierre Victoria, member of the Book Prize jury, led the debate, in which Patricia Ricard, president of the Institut Océanographique Paul Ricard and also a jury member, participated.
Gauthier Chapelle, co-author of the book "L’entraide, l’autre Loi de la Jungle," shows that "in life, the ones that survive the most difficult conditions are not necessarily the strongest but the ones who help each other the most”.
