Wegweisende Veranstaltung zur Kreislaufwirtschaft fördert die Umsetzung von Lösungen für Klima und Biodiversität

(WK-intern) – Das 6. World Circular Economy Forum WCEF2022 findet vom 6. bis 8. Dezember in Kigali, Ruanda, Afrika, statt.

Das diesjährige Forum wird sich darauf konzentrieren, wie die Kreislaufwirtschaft Treibhausgasemissionen reduzieren, die Anpassung an den Klimawandel unterstützen, die biologische Vielfalt schützen und unserer Gesellschaft Arbeitsplätze und Wohlstand bringen kann.

Am Vorabend des Forums, dem 5. Dezember 2022, findet ein Online-Briefing für die Medien statt.

Die WCEF2022 unterstützt die globale Dynamik der UN-Klimakonferenz COP27 und der Biodiversitätskonferenz COP15 mit einem mächtigen Instrument: der Kreislaufwirtschaft. Kritische Umweltprobleme – Klimawandel, Verlust der biologischen Vielfalt und Verknappung natürlicher Ressourcen – sind allesamt Symptome einer nicht nachhaltigen Produktion und eines nicht nachhaltigen Konsums. Es ist von entscheidender Bedeutung, diese Ursachen anzugehen und zirkuläre Lösungen zu implementieren, um die „make-use-dispose“-Prinzipien der linearen Wirtschaft zu ersetzen.

Das Forum ist eine der weltweit führenden Veranstaltungen zur Kreislaufwirtschaft, die ihren Ursprung in Finnland hat, und bringt Wirtschaftsführer, politische Entscheidungsträger und Experten aus Afrika und der ganzen Welt zusammen, um Lösungen für die Kreislaufwirtschaft vorzustellen und zu untersuchen, wie Unternehmen neue Chancen nutzen können. Die WCEF2022 ist stolz darauf, einige der weltweit führenden Change Maker als Redner zu präsentieren. Dazu gehören Valerie Hickey, Global Director der Weltbank; Kristin Hughes, Exekutivdirektorin des Weltwirtschaftsforums; Wanjira Mathai, Geschäftsführerin des World Resources Institute; und Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Umweltministerin Ruandas.

Die WCEF2022 wird sich mit einer Vielzahl von Herausforderungen im Übergang zur Kreislaufwirtschaft befassen, darunter Handel, Wertschöpfungsketten, Politik und Technologie.

Landmark circular economy event encourages implementing solutions for climate and biodiversity

The 6th World Circular Economy Forum WCEF2022 will take place 6–8 December in Kigali, Rwanda, Africa.

This year’s forum will focus on how the circular economy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support climate change adaptation, safeguard biodiversity and bring jobs and well-being to our societies. An online briefing for the media will take place on the eve of the Forum, 5 December 2022.

The WCEF2022 is supporting the global momentum of the UN Climate Change Conference COP27 and Biodiversity Conference COP15 with a powerful tool: the circular economy. Critical environmental issues – climate change, biodiversity loss and shortages of natural resources – are all symptoms of unsustainable production and consumption. It is crucial to address these root causes and implement circular solutions to replace the “make-use-dispose” principles of the linear economy.

The forum is one of the world’s leading circular economy events, originating from Finland, and will bring together business leaders, policymakers and experts from Africa and around the world to present circular economy solutions and examine how businesses can seize new opportunities. The WCEF2022 is proud to present as speakers some of the world’s leading change makers. These include Valerie Hickey, Global Director of the World Bank; Kristin Hughes, Executive Director of the World Economic Forum; Wanjira Mathai, Managing Director of the World Resources Institute; and Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment.

The WCEF2022 will address a wide range of challenges in the circular economy transition including trade, value chains, policy and technology.

“Transitioning to a circular economy is a way to make our economies wiser, resilient and future-proof.”, says Jyrki Katainen, President of Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund. “These past years’ tragedies have shown that we are not resilient. The impacts of the pandemic, shifts in the global security environment, energy and food security are exacerbated by a fossil fuel dependent, wasteful and unfair linear economy. Now, we need to challenge the old model and build a new one, fit for today and for the centuries to come – the circular economy. Many solutions are already right in front of us, and we look forward to learning more about circular solutions from Africa in Kigali.”

According to a recent study by Sitra, circular interventions in the food and agriculture, construction, textiles and forest sectors can halt biodiversity loss and help the world’s biodiversity recover to the same levels as in the year 2000 by 2035.

Highlighting forerunners and diverse, home-grown circular solutions from Africa

Africa has vast natural resources and a young entrepreneurial population. These are key elements to accelerate the circular transition in Africa at WCEF2022. At the same time, new forms of collaboration and innovative solutions around Africa can offer inspiration to the world.

“As a founding member of the African Circular Economy Alliance we are very pleased to host the World Circular Economy Forum in Rwanda. This is the first time the event is taking place in Africa,” says Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Dr Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya.

“The circular economy represents the single greatest opportunity to supercharge green growth and job creation in Africa, and we look forward to sharing Rwanda’s experience and learning from others.”

Under the theme From Africa to the World, the forum will present a wide range of circular solutions for different industries and sectors, with a particular emphasis on harnessing the opportunities to improve livelihoods and end poverty, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change and safeguard biodiversity. WCEF2022 will also address the pressing challenge of financing the transition to a circular economy.

„ACEN is delighted to be co-hosting WCEF2022 as we showcase to the world how circular principles are being applied across Africa. We are looking forward to engaging with delegates to accelerate the transition to a just and inclusive circular economy across the continent,“ says Peter Desmond, Co-Founder of the African Circular Economy Network.

Livestream free of charge to all registered participants

The main event takes place in Rwanda, and anyone can register to follow all live-streamed sessions free of charge at wcef2022.com. People across Africa will also participate in parallel local events, WCEF2022 African Studios in Yaoundé, Lagos, Cape Town, Lusaka as well as in Kigali. Global Studios will also take place in select locations around the world.

Online press briefing on 5 December

Want to learn more? Representatives of the co-hosts will share their thoughts and answer questions in an online press briefing on the eve of the forum, on 5 December at 13:00 (GMT) / 15:00 (CAT/EET). The briefing is limited to representatives of the media and will take place on Microsoft Teams.

The speakers of the press briefing include:

Ntobeko Boyana, Executive and South African Chapter Lead, ACEN
Kari Herlevi, Head of Global Collaboration Unit for Sustainability Solutions, The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra
Representative from the Ministry of Environment, Rwanda

Media representatives are required to register for the briefing by 2 December 14:00 (GMT) / 16:00 (CAT/EET) at lyyti.fi/reg/WCEF_2022__Online_press_briefing_4231.

Registered journalists will be provided with the link to join the Microsoft Teams meeting.

To follow the main forum, media representatives should apply for accreditation at wcef2022.com/media/

The World Circular Economy Forum 2022 is jointly organised by the Government of Rwanda, the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN), and The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, together with other international partners. The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) is Sitra’s global initiative that examines how businesses can gain a competitive advantage through a circular economy and how the circular economy contributes to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra is a future fund that collaborates with partners from different sectors to research, trial and implement bold new ideas that shape the future. Sitra is a nationally and internationally influential think-and-do-and-connect tank, a promoter of experimentation and new operating models, and a facilitator of co-operation. Its aim is a Finland that succeeds as a pioneer in sustainable well-being. Sitra was named the number one public-sector circular economy accelerator in the world when Sitra won the public-sector category of the Circulars Awards 2018 for its pioneering work to accelerate the world’s transition to a circular economy.

The African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) is a government-led coalition of African nations with a mission to spur Africa’s transformation to a circular economy that delivers economic growth, jobs and positive environmental outcomes. It was conceived in 2016 during the World Economic Forum on Africa with the mindset of developing Africa’s circular economy ecosystem while capitalising on its development opportunities. The Alliance serves as a platform that supports the transition to a circular economy at the national, regional and continental levels through policy development, leadership and advocacy, and support in scaling circular businesses and projects.

The Government of Rwanda is a founding member of the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), together with Nigeria and South Africa. The country has an ambitious vision to be a climate resilient and carbon neutral nation by 2050 and is investing in the circular economy to bring this vision to life.

The African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) is a registered non-profit company with a vision to build a restorative African economy that generates well-being and prosperity inclusive of all its people through new forms of economic production and consumption which maintain and regenerate its environmental resources. ACEN is a network made up of 100 Country Representatives in 30 Chapters, and 27 international partners. ACEN aims to support this acceleration by connecting people, sharing knowledge and disseminating opportunities throughout its network and beyond.

PR: The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra

PB: World Circular Economy Forum