AsiaNet  89031

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, April 16, 2021, /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Several commitments to achieve a worldwide circular economy were made on the

two-day high-level World Circular Economy Forum + Climate (WCEF+Climate). The

Netherlands Minister for the Environment, Stientje van Veldhoven, said, "With

this summit, we ensured that circularity is seen worldwide as an inextricable

part of solving the climate crisis."

The conference was jointly organised by The Netherlands and the Finnish

Innovation Fund Sitra. Among the attendees were ministers from dozens of

countries, high level UN representatives and representatives of large companies

and start-ups. "We must decouple economic growth from climate emissions and

overconsumption. We need global collaboration, on the path towards autumn and

the World Circular Economy Forum 2021 in Toronto, as well as UN's Climate

Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, as parts of a circular transition towards a

low carbon, climate proof economy," said Jyrki Katainen, President of The

Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.

The WCEF+Climate clearly demonstrated the worldwide efforts towards a circular

economy to reach our climate targets. Without a circular economy, it is

difficult to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. The smarter use of raw

materials, greater reuse of goods and better recycling could account for a 20

percent reduction in CO2 emissions worldwide.

Young people have an impact

The We Are Tomorrow Global Partnership, a worldwide youth movement, played an

important role at the conference. The Dutch youth climate movement got a seat

at the table: they will be involved in policy discussions towards a circular

economy in the Netherlands. Chairman Werner Schouten: "We are pleased that

young people's voice worldwide is becoming increasingly important. And in the

Netherlands, we see that thousands of young people want to make an active

contribution to a circular economy. The fact that we are allowed to participate

in discussions with other stakeholders is another important step forward."

Attendees

Representatives of the United Nations included Amina Mohammed (Deputy

Secretary-General), Inger Andersen (Executive Director UNEP) and Achim Steiner

(Administrator, UNDP). Among the European Commission's representatives was

Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President). In more than 20 sessions, dozens

of countries and companies pledged to work closer to increase the impact of

existing circular initiatives.

www.wcefplusclimate.com

SOURCE: Netherlands’ Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra