UN Agencies Showcase Circular Economy Solutions at EU Green Week

The 2025 EU Green Week conference, held in Brussels from 3rd to 5th June, witnessed an impressive confluence of UN expertise in high-level sessions, setting the tone for a greener, more competitive, and resilient Europe powered by circular economy solutions. With the spotlight firmly on ‘Circular Solutions for a Competitive EU’, the conference explored the tantalizing trio of Clean, Competitive, and Circular, underlining the potential of circularity to be the tour de force of innovation and sustainability.

The UN’s participation, led by key figures such as Janez Potočnik, Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel (UNEP IRP), and Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, provided a global perspective to the discourse. The aim? To drive home the significance of efficient resource use in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly within the framework of the proposed Circular Economy Act.

The discourse circled back to two key themes: green diplomacy and inclusive partnerships. Schomaker emphasized these aspects in relation to the EU’s global influence, creating a compelling case for a more inclusive approach to resource management – one that not only benefits the environment but also fortifies the resilience and competitiveness of economies.

Jérôme Stucki, Chief of the Circular Industry Resource Efficiency Unit at UNIDO, echoed this sentiment, reinforcing a shared vision between the UNIDO and the EU for a just transition towards circular economies. His emphasis on resource efficiency underscored the need to re-evaluate our current consumption patterns, highlighting the potential of the circular economy as a development opportunity.

The urgency of this transition was encapsulated in the words of Camilla Brückner, Director of the UN/UNDP Office in Brussels and Representative of the UN System in the EU: “If current trends were to continue, we would need three planets by 2050… The transition to a circular economy is not just an environmental imperative—it is a development opportunity.”

The UN’s engagement in the EU Green Week was a vivid demonstration of the power of global-local synergies in accelerating the green transition. Over the three days, the UN Brussels Team booth, coordinated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), became a hotbed of cross-sector dialogue. It showcased how UN entities are driving circular solutions through global cooperation and local impact, reinforcing the importance of embedding circularity into sustainable development strategies.

This collaboration between the UN and EU is a testament to their shared commitment to fast-track the green transition and deliver on the 2030 Agenda. It serves as a potent reminder that the path to a greener future lies in harnessing the potential of the circular economy, not just as an environmental imperative, but as a strategic lever for more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.