The circular economy at COP30: key takeaways
Following the COP30 negotiations in Belém, Brazil, many headlines focused on where they fell short, particularly on the lack of unanimous agreement for a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels. It was a stark difference to the positive momentum that surprised many coming out of COP28. After all, at COP28, governments agreed to ‘transition away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly, and equitable manner.’
But although there was no unanimous agreement on a roadmap, was there progress on the recognition given at COP28 — in the Global Stocktake outcomes text — that circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. approaches are needed in emissions mitigation and climate action?
First, COP30 was the first COP to include circular economy in its thematic days, directly building on the Global Stocktake and part of the Brazilian Presidency’s call for a push on implementation.
It translated into a strong uptick in the number of events in which policymakers, businesses, and NGOs explored systemic circular economy approaches in climate action. In our own engagements, we highlighted how circular economy approaches for critical minerals are essential to delivering the energy transition, as well as the digital transition, which also has a role to play in climate action. We also highlighted the importance of developing circular value chains for bio-based materials as a means of reducing emissions, improving sequestration, and helping nature to thrive, and the need for fair and accurate circular economy emissions accounting. These were just a selection of topics that resonated strongly and complemented the wide range of circular economy discussions in the context of industry, transport, agriculture, urban, and waste sector climate transitions. From each of these discussions, implementation ideas, opportunities, and partnerships will undoubtedly emerge.
COP30 was also the first opportunity for climate negotiators to review circular economy approaches in the waste sector under the Mitigation Work Programme established at COP26.
We were delighted to have been invited to contribute to the dialogue held on this topic in September, and welcome that the mitigation and wider co-benefits of circular economy approaches in the waste sector specifically — but also in relation to other sectors — were recognised in the Belém Political Package. As with the wider discussions at COP30, such agreement sends important signals showing where climate action implementation needs to focus. To tackle the 45% of emissions that come from how we produce and consume, the energy transition needs to be complemented by a circular economy transition — one that helps reduce emissions, build resilience, support innovation, create job opportunities, and tackle waste, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Of course, stronger negotiated progress in other areas, including a unanimous agreement to develop a roadmap for the transition away from fossil fuels, would have been welcome.
What next for the Foundation?
We will continue to work in collaboration with our Network and other stakeholders to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, focusing on identifying systemic barriers to market transformation and mobilising action to overcome them. Market transformation is never the work of one actor. And we are grateful that at COP30, it was clear that many collaborators and critical players were leaning in. We look forward to working with them as we go forward.
