World Circular Economy Forum 2021

The annual World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) presents the world’s leading circular economy solutions with business leaders, policymakers and experts participating from around the world. Building on previous forums, WCEF2021 will focus on the system-level changes, or “game changers,” needed to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Seizing the circular opportunity requires transformational change and collective efforts by businesses, policymakers, civil society and others. 

WCEF2021 is co-organized by the Government of Canada and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, with the support of many partners, like UNEP. Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP is one of the speakers.

Programme

WCEF2021 will offer three days packed with information, ideas and examples of the circular economy. On September 13 and September 14, join us for Game Changer Sessions and short Demonstration Sessions. On September 15, partner organizations will lead Accelerator Sessions, outcome-oriented events that will bridge WCEF2021 with the daily work needed for a circular transition. Consult the Programme for more details about the event.

When: 13 – 15 September 2021

Where: Virtual WCEF event platform; register here.

UNEP participation at WCEF:

Game Changer Session #1: Expanding the Circle: Collaborative Leadership to Drive Bold Action 

When: 13 September at 09:30-10:30 EDT (UTC-4).

International Resource Panel Co-Chair Izabella Teixeira will speak at this session. This first Game Changer Session will highlight the importance of collaborative leadership initiatives between all orders of government and the private sector to drive bold collective action. Circular economy leaders and ministerial panelists will discuss the leadership needed in the next 5 years to build on current momentum, strengthen capacity and support emerging partnerships to accelerate the circular transition. As a stage-setting discussion, this session will be of interest to those seeking to raise circular ambition across all regions and scales.

Register here.

Game Changer Session #3 - Unleashing Entrepreneurship: Scaling and Financing Circular SMEs

When: Monday 13 September at 15:30-16:30 EDT (UTC-4)

Elisa Tonda, Head of the Consumption and Production Unit in UNEP's Economy Division, will speak at this session. This event will explore how SMEs can overcome barriers to financing circular innovation and identify game changing actions that business owners, financial institutions, investors and policymakers can undertake to ensure SMEs are successful in conceptualizing, financing and manufacturing innovative circular products and businesses. This session will be of interest to small business owners and investors, as well as financial institutions and policymakers.

Register here.

High level meeting of the Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE)

When: 14 September 2021, 6:00 to 8:00 EDT (UTC-4) / 12.00 to 14.00 CEST (UTC+2) 

The United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization are organising in close collaboration with the European Union (European Commission – Directorate General for the Environment) the first high-level meeting of GACERE, the Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency, as a side event of the WCEF. Join the online meeting, where GACERE member countries will discuss the progress made since the launch of the Alliance in February 2021. They will also explore the nexus between circular economy and climate change, green recovery and biodiversity.

Register here.

Day 2 Look Ahead: Circularity for the planet

When: Tuesday 14 September at 09:00 EDT (UTC-4)

The United Nations Environment Programme’s Executive Director, Inger Andersen, will provide the Day 2 Opening Keynote on why now is a pivotal moment for global economies, societies, and the planet. Following the opening keynote, speakers will reflect on the progress made in the past year and cast forward to discuss their ambitions for upcoming climate and biodiversity conferences.

Register here.

Accelerating sustainability in the textile value chain: inspiring action and behaviour change

When: 15 September 2021, 7:00 to 8:00 EDT (UTC-4) / 13.00 to 14.00 CEST (UTC+2) 

Join the United Nations Environment Programme for a virtual event that will promote key outcomes of the upcoming UNEP roadmap report, which aims to set out a collaborative pathway to move towards greater sustainability and circularity in the textile value chain and which builds on technical findings and recommendations from UNEP’s 2020 global stocktaking report. The session will also feature insights from UNEP’s upcoming sustainable fashion communications strategy, focused on the role of consumer-facing storytellers and the power of shifting the narrative to strengthen demand for a positive fashion future.

Register here.

Regional deep dive: Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean joining forces for circularity

When: 15 September at 9am EDT & 1pm GMT

Join the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) and Circular Economy Coalition for Latin America & the Caribbean (CEC LAC) for the virtual event Regional deep dive: Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean joining forces for circularity, held on the margins of the 2021 World Circular Economy Forum.

Register here.

Financing the Circular Economy Transition

When: 15 September at 12:00-14:00 EDT (UTC-4)

This outcome-oriented virtual event will focus on accelerating and scaling up circular financing, from the global to the local level. It will begin with a global view of opportunities and challenges curated by the UNEP Finance Initiative followed by an in-depth look at local applications specific to Canada.

Register here.

Latin America and the Caribbean’s Vision of Circular Economy 2030

When: 16 September at 9am EDT & 1pm GMT

Join the Circular Economy Coalition for Latin America & the Caribbean for the virtual event Latin America and the Caribbean´s Vision for a Circular Economy 2030 held on the margins of the 2021 World Circular Economy Forum. The session’s objective is to present the Latin American and the Caribbean vision for Circular Economy. The session will showcase what makes Circular Economy distinctive in the LAC region, what is already being advanced in the region and discuss challenges and enabling conditions for the vision.

Register here.