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United Nations Environment Programme
  • Overview
  • CE roadmaps
  • Financing CE
  • CE in NDCs
  • Circular Food Futures

The Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE), the Circular Economy Coalition for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC CEC), and the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) hosted an Accelerator Session as part of the World Circular Economy Forum 2025:

                            Circular Economy Policies: Connecting Regions, Sharing Solutions.

                                Thursday, 15 May 2025 -  in São Paulo, Brazil (in person only)

This Session targeted policymakers and provided a peer-to-peer exchange space. It was structured around four key themes: 

  1. During this session, government representatives exchanged experiences on developing and implementing circular economy roadmaps tailored to their national contexts, drawing insights from the Latin America and the Caribbean region, the African continent, Europe, and Asia. 
  2. As countries prepare for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0 revisions, this Accelerator Session was also an opportunity to explore how integrating circular approaches into NDCs and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans can accelerate climate and nature goals while driving socio-economic transformation. 
  3. Participants then had a chance to engage in an interactive discussion focusing on actionable solutions for public and private actors to mobilize and scale up financing for the circular transition. 
  4. In the afternoon, the Session Shaping Circular Food Futures: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Scale Up Innovations enabled policymakers to showcase successful policy solutions that integrate circularity into agri-food systems. 

Overall Agenda:

The detailed agenda of each session is available in the different tabs.

For more information on the event, please contact: 

 

About the Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE): GACERE is an alliance of governments at global level willing to work together on and advocate for a global just circular economy transition and a more sustainable management of natural resources, at the political level and in multilateral fora. GACERE was launched in February 2021. GACERE is an initiative of the European Commission on behalf of the European Union and UNEP, in coordination with UNIDO. To date, the following countries have already joined the Global Alliance: Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, the European Union, India, Japan, Kenya, Morocco, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, South Africa and Switzerland. The work of GACERE is supported by strategic partners: the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF).

About the Latin America and the Caribbean Circular Economy Coalition (LAC CEC): LAC CEC was formed in 2021 to provide a regional platform to enhance inter-ministerial, multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder cooperation, increase knowledge and understanding on circular economy, provide capacity-building and technical assistance for the development of public policies for circular economy and sustainable consumption and production. It is currently coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and led by a steering committee composed of six high-level government representatives on a rotating basis. Currently, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Peru are part of the steering committee, together with seven strategic partners: the Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN), the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the World Economic Forum (WEF), the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and UNEP.

About the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA): ACEA is a government-led coalition of African nations with a mission to spur Africa’s transformation to a circular economy that delivers economic growth, jobs, and positive environmental outcomes. ACEA was conceived in 2016 during the World Economic Forum for Africa and has since served as a platform that supports the transition to a circular economy at the national, regional, and continental levels by pushing for policy development, scaling circular economy businesses, and leadership and advocacy. The Alliance was founded by the Governments of Rwanda, Nigeria, and South Africa and currently has 14 African countries as members. The African Development Bank hosts the secretariat of the Alliance and is supported by other strategic partners. 

                                           The Accelerator Session was organised in partnership with:

                                          It was organised with the financial support of the European Union                                                                                             and the African Circular Economy Facility. 

The session 'From Vision to Implementation: Developing Effective Circular Economy Roadmaps' focused on sharing practical experiences, tools, and methodologies for developing national strategies and roadmaps across different continents. 


It served as an opportunity to launch the European Union Switch to Green Facility, CEC-LAC “Guide for Developing Circular Economy Roadmaps in Latin America and the Caribbean” resulting from the 2023 peer-to-peer exchanges and also based on experiences from seven Latin American and Caribbean countries: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay.


Agenda:

09:15 - 09:20 a.m. : Welcome and introduction 

  • Mrs Beatriz Martins Carneiro, Regional Sub-Programme Coordinator Finance and Economic Transformations, UNEP

09:20- 09:30 a.m. : Defining a vision and objectives for a national CE roadmap

How a clear vision helps articulate the role of circular economy in achieving climate, pollution, and biodiversity national objectives?

  • Mr Luis Fernando Ospina, Advisor to the Directorate of Environmental Affairs and Coordinator of the Sustainable Production and Consumption Group, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia
  • Ms Merja Saarnilehto, Senior Ministerial Adviser on Circular Economy, Ministry of Environment, Finland 

09:30 - 09:40 a.m. : Sector-based approach to CE roadmaps 

  • Mr Aubin Dodjide, Focal point circular economy, Ministry of Fisheries Environment and Sustainable Development, Chad

09:40 - 09:50 a.m. : Governance mechanisms to implement CE roadmaps

  • Ms Sissi Alves da Silva, Director of Bioindustry and Strategic Health Inputs, Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, Brazil
  • Mr Ricardo Estrada Merino, Risk Management Specialist for Climate Change Adaptation, Ministry of Environment, Peru
  • Mr Kgauta Mokoena, Chief Director, Waste Management, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa

09:50 - 10:05 a.m. : Measuring progress and assessing impact of CE roadmaps 

How impact assessment methodologies support roadmap development, policy design, and effectiveness evaluation?

  • Mr Carlos Cordero. Director, Secretariat of Sectoral Planning of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), Costa Rica
  • Mr Tomás Saieg Páez, Head of the Circular Economy Office, Ministry of Environment, Chile

10:05 - 10:15 a.m. : Launch and Key insights from the EU- LAC CEC 'Guide for Developing Circular Economy Roadmaps'

  • Mr Bernard Crabbé, Team Leader Environment Mainstreaming and Circular Economy, DG International Partnerships, European Commission

 

                                                     This Session was organised in partnership with:


 

The session 'Unlocking Finance for the Circular Economy: Scaling Public-Private Investments for Higher Impact' focused on actionable solutions for public and private actors to mobilize and scale up financing for the circular transition. 

It served as an opportunity to pre-launch the guidance document developed by GACERE and UNEP-FI on ‘Unlocking Circular Economy Financing – From Vision to Action” which: i) provides action-oriented recommendations for mainstreaming financing of the circular economy, and ii) enhances collaboration between policymakers and regulators (both real economy and financial regulators), Multilateral Development Banks, and private finance to scale up circular economy financing globally.

Agenda:

10:15 - 10:20 a.m. : Welcome and presentation of the upcoming GACERE–UNEP–FI paper “Unlocking Circular Economy Financing – From Vision to Action”

  • Moderator: Ms Djaheezah Subratty, Head, Consumption and Production Unit, Industry and Economy Division, UNEP

10:20 - 10:45 a.m. : Making the circular economics work

  • Mr Emmanuel Chaponniere, Head of Division Circular Economy and Sustainable Development, European Investment Bank
  • Mr Gari Renso Pascual Cucho, Director of the General Directorate of Environmental Quality, Ministry of the Environment, Peru
  • Mr Christian Lanchimba Vascones, Analyst for solid waste management and inclusive circular economy, Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition, Ecuador

10:45 - 11:05 a.m. : Evidencing the circular economy value proposition

  • Ms Davinah Uwella Milenge, Chief Programme Officer, African Development Bank
  • Mr Carlos Cordero Vega, Director, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica

11:05 - 11:15 a.m. : Closing remarks

  • Ms Afke van Rijn, Vice Minister for the Environment and International Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Netherlands

 

                                                      This Session was organised in partnership with:

The session ''Building Circularity into Nationally Determined Contributions' explored how integrating circular approaches into Nationally Determined Contributions can raise climate ambition while driving socio-economic transformation as countries prepare for NDC 3.0 revisions.

 

Agenda:

11:45 – 11:50: 

Welcome and setting the scene:

  • Moderator: Ms Djaheezah Subratty, Head, Consumption and Production Unit, UNEP

Keynote: COP 30, Climate and Circular Economy 

  • Mr Adalberto Maluf, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil

11:50 - 12:00: Introduction to "Building Circularity into NDCs" joint project

  • Mr Kenichi Kitamura, Program Officer NDC, LT-LEDS and Sectorial Support unit, Mitigation Division, UNFCCC Secretariat
  • Ms Alana Craigen, Global Climate Policy Coordinator, Climate Hub, UNDP

12:00 - 12:30: Country experiences on integrating circular economy into NDCs and national climate plans

Panel discussion with representatives from five countries sharing experiences in using the toolbox and/or integrating circular economy approaches into their NDCs

  • Mr Christian Lanchimba Vascones, Analyst for solid waste management and inclusive circular economy, Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition, Ecuador
  • Mr Christian Lopez Rodas, Coordinator, UNDP Ecuador
  • Ms Massiel Cairo, National Council for Climate Change and Clean Development Mechanism, Dominican Republic
  • Mr Didier Gbocho, Director of Green Economy and CSR, Ministry of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, Ivory Coast
  • Ms Soodevi Soobron, Divisional Environment Officer, Ministry of Environment, Mauritius

12:40 - 12:45: Q&A Session

Open floor for audience questions and discussion

 

                                                         This Session was organised in partnership with:

The session 'Shaping Circular Food Futures: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Scale Up Innovations' enabled policymakers to showcase successful policy solutions that integrate circularity into agri-food systems, offering inspiring examples to shape effective and actionable frameworks.

This session specifically explored how circular economic principles are transforming food systems in East Africa and provided an opportunity to learn from real-world examples, including the ACE4Food initiative, Circular Food Systems for Rwanda and other similar projects in the region, highlighting practical solutions for scaling circular business models. 

Agenda:

1:45 – 1:50 p.m. : Welcome and introduction 

  • Moderator: Mr Jay Chikobe, Senior Associate, Resonance

1:50 – 1:55 p.m. : Framing the Opportunity: Multistakeholder approach to shaping circular food futures

  • Mr Robert Mbeche, Director, Food Programs, World Resource Institute

1:55 – 2:15 p.m. : Sharing of experiences between Africa and Latin America on business and policy enabling environment considerations

  • Mr Eric Ruzigamanzi, Program Manager, CIRF Rwanda, WRI Rwanda Country Representative – Food Systems Transformation & Circular Economy
  • Ms Sâmia Mouallem, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Impact Hub São Paulo
  • Mr Marcos David Ferreira, Researcher, Embrapa Instrumentação (São Carlos) – Post-Harvest Technology & Nanotech

2:15 – 2:45 p.m. : Breakout Groups to discuss insights and lessons related to local contexts

2:45 – 3:00 p.m. : Networking session

 

                                                          This Session was organised in partnership with:

 

Agriculture
Did you know?
80 per cent of agricultural land is used for livestock feed.

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