Parallel Session – Circular Economy: Crucial in Achieving the SDGs?

This session will discuss why a circular economy is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals during the Decade of Action.

In this session, representatives from governments, international organisations and businesses discuss why a circular economy is imperative for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in time. The session will not only discuss organisational and policy matters, but will also look at concrete circular business cases introduced by Footprints Africa and the African Circular Economy Network. These cases show that a just transition to a circular economy is not only crucial for achieving the SDGs before 2030, but also creates interesting business opportunities.

Speakers include:

• H.E. Ms Stientje van Veldhoven, Minister for the Environment, the Netherlands
• H.E. Ms Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
• H.E. Mr Armando R. Lampe, Minister of Education, Science and Sustainable Development, Aruba
• Mr Norbert Kurilla, Co-Founder of Circular Slovakia and Advisor to the President, Slovak Republic
• H.E. Mr LI Yong, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
• Malek Sukkar, Chief Executive Officer of Averda
• Himkaar Singh, Chief Executive Officer of The Compost Kitchen
• Keiran Smith, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Mr Green Africa
• Ikenna Azuike, Moderator

Other sessions on WCEF+Climate day 1

• Global Opening WCEF+Climate – Circular Economy by 2050: A Necessity for Climate Neutrality
• Circular Economy: A Prerequisite for Achieving Climate Neutrality
• Globalising the Circular Economy Dialogue
• Decent Work and Circularity in the End-of-Use Plastics Value Chain
• Let’s Talk about Money: The Role of a Circular Economy in the Climate-Finance Nexus
• Closing Day 1 – Let’s Go Circular: Closing the Loop from a Business Perspective