The UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP) takes place annually, bringing together global leaders to drive climate action. This year’s event, COP30, is taking place in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November.
The circular economy is key to tackling climate change
The transition to renewable energyrenewable energyEnergy derived from resources that are not depleted on timescales relevant to the economy, i.e. not geological timescales. is vital but it can only address 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To tackle the remaining 45% and reach net zero, we also need a transition in how we produce and consume. This is where the circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. comes in. We need a circular economy that eliminates waste and pollution, circulates products and materials, and regenerates nature.
The Foundation at COP30
COP30 is a critical moment to drive forward climate action. It's an opportunity for policymakers, businesses, and organisations committed to tackling global challenges to come together to assess progress, and develop and implement solutions. The Foundation will contribute its work on engaging, inspiring, and mobilising leaders to scale circular economy solutions that address these challenges.
Connect with us
The Foundation’s team will participate in a number of events, taking this opportunity to demonstrate that systemic problems need systemic solutions. The Foundation is a systems change organisation — identifying systemic barriers to market transformation, mobilising action to overcome them, and driving breakthrough solutions that benefit the economy, people, and the planet. Further event details, with registration and livestream links where available, will be added as they are confirmed.
10 November, 14:00 - 15:00 CET | UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, online | The circular economy: a key enabler of climate action | Register
10 November, 14:00 - 15:00 | Finland Pavilion, Blue Zone | AI and sustainability: the almost perfect partners for a brighter future?
10 November, 16:00 - 17:00 | Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI) Pavilion, Green Zone | National circular economy strategy: challenges and opportunities for industry
11 November, 10:00 - 11:00 | ABDI Pavilion, Green Zone | Emissions mitigation through a circular economy approach: how circular economy inclusion in emissions accounting can help get us closer to net zero
11 November, 14:00 - 15:00 CET | UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, online | Financing a just and circular future for critical energy transition materials | Register
11 November, 17:20 - 18:10 | State of Green at the Denmark Pavilion, Blue Zone | Innovation and collaboration for circular economy solutions: sharingsharingThe use of a product by multiple users. It is a practice that retains the highest value of a product by extending its use period. experiences and learnings from Brazil and Denmark | Further details
12 November, 11:00 - 12:00 | Sebrae Pavilion, Green Zone | Circular economy and small businesses in climate action
12 November, 13:15 - 13:45 | Sweden Pavilion, Blue Zone | Enabling multi-level governance to build circular and resilient cities and societies | Further details
13 November, 10:00 - 11:00 | World Climate Impact Hub, Blue Zone | Circular economy and decarbonisation: innovation, inclusion, and green industrialisation | Further details and registration
13 November, 18:00 - 19:00 | China Pavilion, Blue Zone | Powering systems change: co-creating a net zero future
17 November, 15:00 - 16:30 | Climate Action Solutions and Engagement (CASE) House | Circular economy of plastics: solutions in implementation and new replacement alternatives
18 November, 16:00 - 17:00 | ABDI Pavilion, Green Zone | From nature to climate action: rethinking biomaterials in a circular economy
COP29
COP29 took place in Azerbaijan from 11 to 22 November 2024.
The Foundation’s China and Latin America teams participated in a number of events, taking this opportunity to demonstrate that the transition from a linear economylinear economyAn economy in which finite resources are extracted to make products that are used - generally not to their full potential - and then thrown away ('take-make-waste'). to a circular economy is a vital part of what is needed to tackle climate change and other global challenges, including biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. Key moments included:
Launching a new paper, The circular economy: a ‘triple play’ solution for achieving China’s climate objectives, highlighting the fundamental benefits of the circular economy for climate action in China
Engaging with key stakeholders on Brazil’s plans for circular economy leadership ahead of COP30, which will take place in Brazil from 10 to 21 November 2025
Our presence at COP29 was followed by the publication of an insights paper, Improving climate emissions accounting to accelerate the circular economy transition, aimed at ensuring businesses can fairly and accurately assess the emissions impact of their circular economy activities and thereby strengthen the business case.
Circular economy events from COP28
COP28 events we participated in
2nd December
10:30 GST | UN SDG Pavilion with ClimateWorks Foundation and the National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, China | Circular economy: a path to climate solutions and sustainable development | Event website | Watch event
3rd December
18:30 GST | UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) | Circularity as a game changer for climate action: upscaling applied research and economic solutions | Event website | Watch event
4th December
10:45 GST | China Pavilion with the China Association of Circular Economy | How the circular economy can support China’s carbon emissions reduction
5th December
12:25 GST | UAE Pavilion with the UAE Ministry of Economy | UAE circular economy forum: shaping and funding circular futures | Watch event
15:00 GST | Global Climate Action Al Wakri room with UNFCCC Fashion Charter | Pathway to Paris goals: runway to net zero in the fashion industry | Watch event
6th December
13:00 GST | China Pavilion with the National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, China | 9th global climate change think tank forum
15:15 GST | Al Waha room with COP28 Presidency | No time to waste: closing the climate loop | Event website | Watch event
8th December
16:30 GST | Brazil Pavilion with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development | Circular economy, decarbonisation, and the challenges for Brazilian industry | Watch event
16:30 GST | Future Economy Forum Pavilion | Circular design for food: six short stories | Event website
9th December
09:50 GST | Swedish Pavilion | Closing the loop: How does food circularity enhance climate and nature action? | Event website | Watch event
10 December
12:30 GST | German Pavilion with IRP and UN One Planet Network | Time to act: raising ambition in climate change mitigation through resource efficiency and the circular economy | Watch event
13:30 GST | Italy Pavilion with Intesa Sanpaolo | Circular economy and climate change: the role of financial institutions and the private sector in accelerating the transition towards a regenerative economy | Watch event
Circular economy events from COP27
COP27 events we participated in
9th November
UN PAGE event - Accelerating circularity as a holistic response to the triple planetary crisis: the economic case. Watch event
9-10th November
UNFCCC - Global Stocktake.
11th November
Canada Pavilion - Circularity for climate: making the case for the net-zero, circular transition.
Sweden Pavilion - System-thinking and circular economy for decarbonisation. Watch event
12th November
Sweden Pavilion - Technological innovations accelerating circularity within the food value chain. Watch event
Denmark Pavilion - Circular systems for a net positive fashion industry.
14th November
Buildings Pavilion - Creating a circular built environment: the why and how. Watch event
17th November
Minderoo Pavilion - How can greater transparency in the supply chain help end the plastic pollution crisis.
Benelux/EIB Pavilion - Launch of circular finance roadmap for International Financial Institutions. Watch event
