SWITCH-Asia

WHEN:  28 November 2024     I    TIME:  18:00 - 19:30 (Bangkok Time) ; 8:00 - 9:30 (Brasilia); 12:00 - 13:30 (Brussels)  I    Webinar Recording HERE 

Background:

The Circular Economy Knowledge Hubs Webinar Series is part of an intervention co-implemented by the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component and the Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP).This aims to contribute to a shared understanding on Circular Economy scope, aims, principles, practices and knowledge taxonomy, by actively involving several regional and global circular economy knowledge and stakeholder platforms in Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America.

As the circular economy is gaining momentum globally, so is the number of knowledge products on the topic. A significant challenge is alignment among best practice knowledge products with frequent overlaps in concepts, practices, application objectives, and target audiences. This issue stems from differing interpretations of the ambition, concepts and operational practices for circular economy, which vary in terminology, scope, prioritized sectors, stakeholder groups, and cultural distinctions. These challenges might also lead to a fragmented approach to managing and disseminating the knowledge, skills, and information required to strengthen actions toward a green and circular economy.

In this context, the project "Accelerating the Transition to a Circular Economy: Enhancing Knowledge Generation, Management, and Sharing" seeks to develop a shared operational framework for a Circular Economy knowledge taxonomy (categories, tags, types of content) by actively engaging with various regional and global circular economy knowledge and stakeholder platforms.

The initiative will ultimately contribute to:

• Improved availability and applicability of practical and experience-based circular economy knowledge for decision-makers, particularly policy makers, businesses and other practitioners;                 
• Enhanced searchability, accessibility, and contextual understanding of best      practice circular economy knowledge and expertise for implementing green and circular economy actions;
• Increased awareness of the policy and business agenda and case for circular economy, including  among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs);
• Overall improved knowledge management practices in Circular Economy Platforms.

Webinar Session

The EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component and the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP), are convening the Webinar series. This second webinar explores regional and global perspectives on implementing the circular economy, focusing on how knowledge platforms can drive awareness, capacity building, and tangible action by policy makers, producers and consumers. Experts will discuss the role of knowledge platforms in raising awareness, building capacity, and fostering circular thinking among policymakers, businesses, and the public. The panel will also address regional challenges, collaboration opportunities with global initiatives, and metrics for assessing the relevance and accessibility of circular economy knowledge provided by current platforms for different sectors or regions. 

Join the conversation and keep yourself up-to-speed with the Circular Economy Leaders’ Community.

Target audience: 

Circular economy knowledge platforms, practitioners, educators, and stakeholders working on the circular economy.

Moderators:

Hannes MAC NULTY, Manager - Green Industry Platform - Green Growth Knowledge Partnership

Hannes is the manager of the Green Industry Platform, one of the three platforms that make up the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership. A mechanical engineer with 20 years of experience working within the industry, government and NGO sectors, Hannes has an active interest in developing market-driven solutions that can deliver extensive upscaling of existing industry support programmes. His specific area of expertise is in resource efficiency and industrial decarbonisation, with a particular focus on bridging the communication gaps between related public and private sector stakeholders. 

Rene VAN BERKEL, Circular Economy Expert, SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component 

Dr René Van Berkel was formerly the Representative and Head of the Regional Office of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in India. In this role he was responsible for industry and government advocacy and coordination of UNIDO technical assistance portfolio on inclusive and sustainable industrial development, covering energy and resource efficiency, renewable energy, innovation, digitalization and circularity and MSME development. Previously he served amongst others in thematic leadership roles on resource efficient and cleaner production in UNIDO and as Professor of Cleaner Production at Curtin University of Technology in Australia. René has a three decade track record of pioneering and implementing SCP techniques, practices and policies in manufacturing and other productive sectors in Asia (including India, Indonesia, China, Viet Nam, Bangladesh and Myanmar) and globally. He currently serves as Senior Circular Economy Expert for the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component. 

Speakers:

Anthony Pramualratana, ASEAN Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform 

In July 2022, Dr. Anthony Pramualratana assumed the role of Deputy Executive Director at the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development and Studies Dialogue (ACSDSD). The ACSDSD garnered support from leaders during the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in June 2019 and was officially launched at the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in November 2019. Its primary objective is to advance research on specific sustainable development issues of mutual interest and facilitate dialogue among ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, Dialogues, and external partners, employing a comprehensive and cross-cutting approach. In September 2022, Dr. Pramualratana played a key role in establishing the ASEAN Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, a regional facility aimed at helping ASEAN Member States (AMS) achieve sustainable consumption and production by accelerating the transition towards a circular economy.

Beatriz MARTINS CARNEIRO, Circular Economy Coalition for Latin America and the Caribbean

Beatriz has 18 years of experience in environmental law, advocacy and sustainable development, having worked in law firms, government agencies and NGO’s. During her career, she carried out activities related to policy design, implementation of programs and policies, as well as institutional representation. She has worked in various thematic areas (sustainable consumption and production, biodiversity, renewable energy and climate change, waste management policy, water resources, business and human rights, governance, integrity and anti-corruption) and institutional environments (government, private sector, NGOs and UN agencies).

Zafar MAKHMUDOV, Central Asia Climate and Information Portal (CACIP), Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC)

Zafar's main areas of professional expertise and activities are related to mainstreaming climate change adaptation and mitigation into national development plans and strategies, integration of circular economy, and Sustainable Consumption and Production at national, and regional levels. Prior to joining CAREC, he served as the Head of the Project Implementation Unit at the Committee for Environment Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, where he coordinated projects on natural resource management at all levels of their implementation. Until April 2019, Zafar served as the Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Committee on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. As a member of the Board of the Climate Investment Funds and Co-chair of the Pilot Program Committee for Climate Resilience, he has advanced experience in managing and preparing National Adaptation Plans, national adaptation strategies for Climate Change, National Environmental Plan and extensive experience in representing the Government of Tajikistan at negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Alice SENGA, European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP)

Alice is a seasoned communications expert with a master's degree in digital communication, specialising in EU environmental policies and law studies. She has a strong track record of uniting civil society, stakeholders from various sectors, and policymakers to advance sustainable policies. She is one of the administrators for the secretariat of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Throughout her career, she has facilitated collaboration among policymakers and stakeholders in various settings, including high-profile events such as the platform's annual conference and the #EUCircularTalks initiative. Alice is committed to advocating the EU's shift towards a zero-waste economy that aligns with the Green Deal and Sustainable development goals.     

Katharina GIHRING, Strategic Programme and Operational Lead of the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN)

Katharina is the Strategic Programme and Operational Lead of the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) and has a key role in further operationalising ACEN to grow the success of the network. She is a circular economy consultant working across sectors to accelerate the circular transition in Africa. A specialist in multisector collaboration, stakeholder convening, and project management, her work with the African Circular Economy Network and Circular South Africa is aimed at activating collective intelligence in the circular space. Working with national government, diplomatic missions, NGOs, and private sector, she is a vocal advocate for the role of a just circular economy transition in Africa. 

Tho Dinh NGUYEN, President of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam

Associate Professor Tho Dinh NGUYEN holds PhD in Economics from University of London, focusing his research on macroeconomics, financial markets, climate finance, carbon markets, environment studies and sustainable development. As President of Institute of Strategy, Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, he is currently responsible for national strategies, planning and public policies on sustainable development, climate finance and carbon markets. He is responsible for designing regulations on Green Taxonomy, Circular Economy and Natural Capital Accounting in Vietnam.

Cynthia REYNOLDS, Founder & Convener, Circular Economy Coalition

Cynthia is an RSA Fellow, lifelong learner and serial entrepreneur passionate about how the combination of technology, innovative business models and the use of global networks and resources can create social, economic and environmental impact. Combining her broad background in technology and focus on regenerative solutions, she has a proven record of converting ideas into action for positive societal change. She is the Convener of the Circular Economy Coalition bringing together research, academia, the public, private and third sectors across more than 30 countries accelerating the Circular Economy through the use of shared tools and resources. Her book Diamond Economics https://diamondeconomics.org is scheduled to be published early in 2025.

Basrie KAMBA, President Director of Asia Pacific Rayon (APR)

Before joining APR in March 2018, Basrie has a broad experience in sustainability and non-technical risks. He spent 15 years in senior positions at multinational corporations, including BP and Vale, and 13 years in journalism at English-language daily - The Jakarta Post. At the MNCs, he’s in charge for the sustainable community-based engagement and partnership at various remote and challenging places across Indonesia: Papua, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, West Java and Jambi. 

Hoa TRINH, Co-founder, BUYO Bioplastics Company Limited  

Hoa serves as an environmental specialist for the World Bank Group, supporting on water, environment and sanitation operations, and climate finance. She is active also in fields of environmental quality management and plastics pollution reduction, being a technical consultant for various donor funded projects in Vietnam. She used to serve as the Environmental and Climate Change Technical Specialist to Global Affairs Canada and as the Program Manager for the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a leading US-based Environmental Organization, seeding the very first climate change mitigation project on rice paddy in the Mekong Delta. She holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, USA and a Master in Applied Environmental Geosciences from the University of Tuebingen, Germany. She received a BS in Chemical Engineering from Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam.

Carlos SCHEEL, EGADE Business School, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico

Carlos Scheel is Professor Emeritus of the Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico. As an expert in innovation, technology and sustainability innovation strategies, since 2007 he has designed and validated the SWIT model (Sustainable Wealth creation based on disruptive Innovation and enabling Technologies) a Think and a Do Tank, designed to create viable sustainable strategies based on a "Circular Systems Business-driven Sustainability" concept,  for regions and industries, mainly for developing countries, in order to create the infrastructure conditions for a sustainable regional wealth. He has delivered projects, short courses and specialized seminars in more than 30 institutions in 21 countries. Is the author of more than 60 technical papers, and 15 books.

Agenda