Circular Economy in Built Environment – COP24 Side Event

UN SBC Programme

Wednesday, December 5^th 2018 – 13.30-15.00 PM Nordic Pavilion, Global Climate Action Area

Photo credit: Harri Hakaste, Ministry of Environment, Finland

Circular Economy in Built Environment – Good Practices from the Nordic Countries, Europe and Globally

The global One Planet Network programmes on buildings, procurement, tourism, lifestyles and education, consumer information and food systems are committed to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production in both developed and developing countries. They have also chosen circular economy as common means to implement SDG12. This Side Event aims at sharing good practices and identifying concrete action points how creating circular economy supports meeting our global challenges.

The building sector has a huge potential to mitigate climate change through applying circularity principles providing at the same time important economic and social benefits. Examples of circular buildings and construction show how much has been already successfully done. The policymakers, investors and construction clients have control over the business models and contractual frameworks in which built environment assets are created and operated. Their actions can maximise impacts at all scales along the value chain.

After introducing examples of circular policies and practices with their benefits, interactive debate follows on who should be leading the way, how the whole value chain can be engaged and what can we learn from what has already been made. The event is concluded by stepping stones ahead.

The Networking Event is organized by Sustainable Buildings and Construction Programme (SBC) which is one of the thematic programmes of the UN One Planet Network Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production. SBC is led by Finnish Ministry of the Environment. Co-organizers of the event are Development Alternatives (India) Energies2050 (France) and WBCSD (Switzerland). The work in SBC aims at developing a common global framework and global report for circular economy in buildings and construction.

Author: Jessica Karhu, SBC Programme, One Planet Network