This online session will explore how cities across the globe can unlock circular economy potential at the local level.

It will open with an overview of the recently published Circular Cities Declaration Report 2022, developed by ICLEI Europe with support from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The report is the widest ever assessment of circular economy practices across European cities, highlighting key trends and challenges faced by cities in the transition from a linear to a circular economy.

Two ICLEI Members – Espoo (Finland) and Maribor (Slovenia) – will provide testimonials on how to: implement a circular economy, overcome barriers to implementation, and harness major co-benefits such as nature conservation and resilience. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation will then provide a global perspective on the barriers non-European cities face, and solutions they have implemented, with inputs from cities including ICLEI Member Cape Town (South Africa). Lastly, an open discussion will explore how to accelerate and scale-up the circular economy at the city level, while also harnessing co-benefits.

This session will be of interest to local authorities, local practitioners, solution providers, policy makers, and civil society representatives.

More information about the programme will follow on the Circular Cities Declaration website: https://circularcitiesdeclaration.eu/. To register, click here.

This event is an Accelerator Session at the World Circular Economy Forum 2023.