With the global shift to a circular economy, new material and financial flows will progressively disrupt international economic relations and trade patterns consolidated in decades of a globalized linear economic system.

How can countries effectively manage such large-scale transformations while improving the distribution of opportunities for circular economic value creation around the globe? What is required to build mutual trust and credibility as the basis for cooperation among highincome and low-income countries? Is the approach currently driving climate negotiations helpful towards this aim?   

On June 23rd, 15.00 – 16.30 CEST, the International Resource Panel (IRP) and the World Resources Forum (WRF) hosted the webinar “Close the gap while closing the loop? Global North-South relations for a fair circular economy transition”. 

International leading experts dived into the international consequences of a circular economy transition in high-income countries and started to delineate a roadmap for a globally coordinated approach aimed at achieving sustainability and shared prosperity.  

Dr. Janez Potocnik (IRP Co-Chair) provided a keynote speech to set the stage for a panel discussion with Dr. Mamphela Ramphele (Co-President Club of Rome), Dr. Nabil Nasr (Rochester Institute of Technology), and Dr. Joanna Kulczycka (AGH University of Science and Technology). The panel debate was moderated by Merlyn van Voore, Head of the Secretariat for the International Resource Panel.

This webinar was organized in occasion of the 15th Anniversary of the International Resource Panel and the 10th Anniversary of the World Resources Forum.

See the full recording of the event below: