The World Circular Economy Forum 2025 (WCEF2025) brings together leaders and changemakers to rethink how we produce, consume, and manage resources. As a WCEF2025 partner, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is actively contributing to the conversation, focusing on how circular solutions can drive climate action, protect nature, reduce pollution, and support a just energy transition.

To join the forum online, you can register here.

UNDP co-organized sessions at WCEF2025

1. Accelerating the just energy transition with a responsible critical minerals lifecycle

Tuesday, 13 May 2025  |  11:30 - 12:30 (São Paulo time)

The global demand for critical energy transition minerals is expected to triple by 2030. This session will share how circular economy approaches can generate meaningful sustainable development dividends for, and respect for the rights of, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and societies, particularly those most affected by mining activities, across the entire mineral value chain. Topics will include technology, financing and policies, and the session will highlight best practices and country examples for ensuring that investments in the mineral lifecycle are responsible, fair and catalyze sustainable development.

Read more

2. The circular economy as the pathway to climate and nature targets 

Tuesday, 13 May 2025  |  16:00 - 17:30 (São Paulo time)

Resource use drives the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. However, we are set to increase our resource use by 60 percent by 2060, putting economic and social prosperity at risk. We must become better stewards and decouple economic growth from resource use and environmental impacts. This session will illustrate how the circular economy, an efficient instrument for decoupling, is currently integrated in the global environmental governance system and ask: What policy shifts and bold innovations are needed to tackle the triple crisis?

Read more