Global South takes the helm, driving the circular transition towards a sustainable future!
The highly anticipated roundtable “From Aspiration to Actions: Accelerating Circular Transition Worldwide!” held on April 15th, 2024, at The Square in Brussels, as part of the World Circular Economy Forum 2024 (WCEF2024), concluded with resounding success. Diverse stakeholders from leading entities in the field of Circular Economy convened to discuss strategies for accelerating the global transition towards circularity.
Led by entities from the Global South, notably the International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE) from India, and partnered with ACEN from Africa, Exchange4Change from Brazil, and ACESP from ASEAN countries came together in solidarity to address global challenges. “In the face of escalating environmental challenges and unsustainable consumption patterns, we, the undersigned, are compelled to address the pressing need for transformative action towards a more sustainable future. This manifesto serves as a clarion call to establish the Global Center on Circular Economy, hosted by India and supported by the Global South Partners”, said the manifesto which was released during the roundtable.
The roundtable boasted a diverse lineup of attendees, including representatives from esteemed organizations such as the Ministry of Environment (Finland), Ministry of Water (Netherlands), Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (Rwanda), EU Commission, The World Bank, European Investment Bank, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, European Remanufacturing Council, EEB, Holland Circular Hotspot, Circle Economy, SITRA, WBCSD, Chatham House, and many more.
Ms. Shalini Goyal Bhalla, Managing Director at ICCE, emphasized “the Global South ought to take the grip on itself to lead a circular transition, ultimately leading to mitigating climate change.” She emphasized the need for fair redistribution of resources to ensure that all individuals and communities have access to the essential resources. Chris Whyte, Founder and Executive Director of ACEN, said “the transition to a Circular Economy for the Global South is imperative to meet the needs for a just and sustainable future – there are common threads across our countries that both underpin this, and provide a rich platform for collaboration across the global south and with our northern partners”.
Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Ambassador of India to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in achieving circularity goals. He reverberated India’s PM’s Mr Narendar Modi’s statement of 3P – pro-planet people to meet the climate commitments.
Freek Van Ejik, Co-chair of ECESP, highlighted the role of circular economy platforms in facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders. Andrea Liverani, Lead Specialist, Sustainable Development, Europe, and Central Asia at the World Bank, emphasized the critical role of the circular economy in achieving sustainable development goals.
Piotr Barczak, ACEN Foundation’s Circular Economy Program Manager urged:
“all governments and development agencies should better strategize their initiatives, by carefully assessing the needs, streams, skills and design appropriate action plans to implement the positively disrupting new policies and business models.”
Organisations like the World Bank, Circular Economy Coalition, Circle Economy Foundation, European Environmental Bureau, ACEN Foundation, Holland Circular Hotspot have shown solidarity to the cause.
The participants agreed that the proposed Global Center on Circular Economy is a vital initiative, addressing the pressing need for coordinated action and knowledge exchange. Led by the Global South, this unique proposition holds the potential to not only benefit Global South countries but also support the Global North in meeting their Net Zero targets. By fostering a pro-planet mindset and strengthening supply chains, the Center promises to drive transformative change on a global scale.
Credit: Africa 21and The African Circular Economy Network.
