The Ministerial Meeting on Circular Economy "Empowering Interregional Partnerships for Circular Economy Transition: Towards a Climate Resilient and Sustainable Future via Resource-Efficiency" was organised on 16 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
This high level ministerial event of the UN Azerbaijan-Pavilion of the UNFCCC COP29 was organised by the COP29 Presidency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
Objectives: The goal of the Ministerial Meeting was to shed light on the potential impact that materials efficiency and more broadly, circular economy approaches can have on the drivers of GHG emissions, i.e. the way we design, make, use and dispose of products.
More specifically the event:
- Built knowledge on opportunities and challenges concerning circular transition, particularly the key factors to be considered to make a transition to a resource efficient and fair circular economy;
- Explored relevant tools, mechanisms and leading innovative practices, presented examples of diversification, sustainable management of resources, and integration of circular solutions to different sectors globally that could be replicated and adapted in the regional and national contexts;
- Showcased some inspiring examples from countries that are leveraging circular economy to raise climate ambition, including through their NDCs;
Key outcomes:
- Advocated for resource efficient, sustainable and circular policies globally, manifested the importance of enhancement of regional ownership, brought interregional nodes across the globe and consolidated a network of regional platforms that advocate circular transition.
- Launched of the RESCUE Initiative, a Regional Initiative on Resource Efficiency, Sustainability and Circular Economy in the ECO Region which will advocate for a just transition to a resource-efficient, circular and regenerative economy, and support coherent policies for circularity and more sustainable management of natural resources.
- Released the Joint Declaration on Baku Resource Efficiency and Circularity Agenda. The document has a non-binding and declarative character. Open for any stakeholders (countries, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, businesses, academia, various entities, fora, initiatives, etc.).
For more information about the event, please contact:
Claire Thiebault, Programme Management Officer, UNEP, claire.thiebault@un.org
