Highlights and images for 3 June 2019

Finland

  1. 3rd World Circular Economy Forum 2019 (WCEF2019)

Summary

Highlights for Monday, 3 June 2019

Youth representatives from over 70 countries march on the stage, calling audience members to tackle key causes of climate change and environmental degradation.

WCEF2019 The 2019 World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF2019) opened today in Helsinki, Finland, as a global initiative of Finland and the Finnish Innovation Fund (Sitra).Following a live welcome performance on the theme “wind, water, earth and fire,” moderators Peter Woodward, Quest Associates, and Veera Heinonen, Sitra, welcomed more than 2,000 participants from over 90 countries.President Mikko Kosonen, Sitra, underlined that, while the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss are being increasingly felt, there are nonetheless positive examples of change, such as the Finnish roadmap to a circular economy by 2025. Youth representatives from over 70 countries marched on the stage with banners, calling audience members to tackle key causes of climate change and environmental degradation.On ways to scaling up global solutions, Stientje van Veldhoven, Minister for the Environment, the Netherlands, drew attention to population growth and the “enormous” pressure on natural resources, identifying governments’ public procurement spending as a good opportunity for driving the circular economy. Torbjörn Lööf, CEO, Inter IKEA Group, announced his company’s commitment to use only renewables and recyclables by 2030.Four parallel sessions took place in the afternoon to discuss: acceleration of business innovations; circular economy in cities; governance and roadmaps; and the circular economy in Africa.The Forum closed its first day of deliberations with a plenary session on “Building an Enabling Environment for Circular Business.” Key takeaways include:

  • transition to a circular economy is essential to respond to the climate crisis and the rapid destruction of the biosphere, which is affecting human health and undermining the life of present and future generations;
  • governance and policy frameworks are crucial, as the circular economy transition will not happen if incentives to a wasteful economy are allowed to endure;
  • a business case for the circular economy that clarifies the benefits of natural capital accounting can help with the transition;
  • the transition to the circular economy must be inclusive and take into account the cultural, economic, political and social dimensions of different regional contexts;
  • consumer mindsets remain a barrier for the circular economy and more work is required to raise awareness of sustainable consumption.

    • IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily web updates from WCEF2019. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary report from the meeting, which is available in HTML and PDF.

    A live performance at the Grand Opening of the WCEF2019.

    Participants

    Non-state coalitions
    Youth