Transitioning to A Circular Economy and Zero Waste Society through Integrated Chemical and Waste Management (Side Event at the 7th GEF Assembly)

Background:

Unsound management of chemicals and waste contributes significantly to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, and pollution. Harmful chemicals and waste threaten people and planet’s health. Urgent actions are needed to change the status quo of open dumping and burning of waste, landfill, or incineration.

Countries stress the need for strong drivers of economic transformation and a greener, healthier development paradigm. This includes economic policy reforms, shifting investment toward sustainable consumption and production and circularity. Waste prevention and management is a powerful tool to transition to a circular economy, shifting to green growth and low carbon society. Zero waste is a desired vision with multiple benefits. It is achievable when all stakeholders work together guided by a forward-looking strategy, an integrated and coordinated action plan, and a clear governance structure.

Leadership of local government, coordination between central and local governments, cooperation among cities, stakeholders, CSO are critical to build effective partnership and trust to address the challenges of circular economy and waste management. Diverse financial instruments should be developed to ensure necessary investments on sustainable infrastructure and operation. Public and Private Partnership were proved to be effective in practice and could be replicated in more cities.

Objective:

The side event will present a vision for Zero Waste and Circular Economy with a focus on future interventions in developing countries. It will demonstrate how to address the triple planetary crisis through one intervention point at the municipal level. Municipalities can be entry points for Development policies: the role of Municipalities and local governments in Zero Waste and Circular Economy approaches, and the importance of long-term planning to support effective action will be highlighted.

This event will thus bring the participants from the central government, local government, CSO, Youth, and execution partners of GEF projects to share experiences and insights on chemical and waste management towards a circular economy direction and zero waste vision.

Participants will discuss challenges in eliminating harmful chemicals from the value chain for circularity, integrated planning, financing instruments, models of public-private partnership, engagement with stakeholders, innovation, the role of central governments, local governments, and CSOs, and how to build trust of citizens, bring opportunities to SMEs, and prompt behavioral change.