Our proposed agenda for international collective actions and cooperation goes beyond what has been discussed within the circular economy and SDG policy contexts in the past decade, and advances ideas and actions that extend all the way until 2050.
As this paper has highlighted, an inclusive circular economy aims to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials at their highest value, and regenerate natural systems, while ensuring that all communities benefit equitably. We have argued that circular approaches address the root causes of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, in part by prompting society to rethink how it produces, consumes and manages materials. By focusing on sustainable livelihoods, decent work and social justice, the circular economy can improve human development and well-being globally. We have also argued that the circular economy and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are complementary, and that promoting the circular economy within the SDG agenda can both make development programming more effective and enable the circular economy to reach critical mass.
Yet to integrate the circular economy effectively into the SDGs and the post-2030 development agenda, a systematic strategy is necessary. Current policy efforts are often fragmented. They fail to address the interconnectedness of global challenges, and of one SDG with another. Additionally, the circular economy could bring unwelcome consequences if its growth is not directed appropriately, as there is a risk that governments will see it as a tool for deglobalization, trade competition and resource nationalism. This risk will become all the more salient as climate change and other environmental challenges increase the pressure on countries to secure critical resources, potentially at the expense of the global commons. To counter these trends, a coordinated multilateral approach is essential to prevent the circular economy from becoming a unilateral competitive tool, and to ensure that all nations benefit from the transition.
This paper has highlighted five priority areas for international coordination and cooperation: embedding principles of just transition and inclusivity in circular economy development; establishing an international policy coordination mechanism; developing a funding framework for circular innovations; reforming the global trade system to support circular trade while preventing illegal waste dumping; and creating common standards and metrics. These actions, we believe, can help align global efforts and foster synergies in global resource management, mitigating potential conflicts over critical raw materials.
The momentum for shifting to a global circular economy is rapidly building. This has been demonstrated by the development to date of more than 75 national circular economy roadmaps, and by the planned introduction of 3,000 policies in the coming decade. As such, this is an opportune moment for the international community to come together and fully leverage the potential of the circular economy to help reinvigorate the SDGs and set a framework for the post-2030 development agenda. By working collaboratively, the global community can make significant strides towards achieving environmental and social objectives, paving the way for a sustainable and inclusive future for everyone.
Now is the time for decisive action. The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution threatens to exacerbate global inequality and deepen poverty unless we act swiftly. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized in the lead-up to the Summit of the Future, we must prioritize global solidarity and collective action to address these interconnected crises. As Guterres has urged, the Summit of the Future is ‘a chance to shape multilateralism for years to come’ and to secure a future that works for all, underlining that our efforts must align with the urgent need to reform and strengthen global cooperation. By embedding circular economy principles into the international development agenda and renewing our commitment to multilateralism, we can create a future where human well-being is intrinsically linked with the health of the planet.
