WHEN:  16 December 2025     I    TIME:  15:00-17:00 (Bangkok Time)   I  Register HERE 

Background

In December 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted. It aims to limit the global average temperature increase to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and to increase parties’ ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and make financial flows consistent with a pathway toward low GHG emissions and climate resilient development. Each party shall communicate, at five-year intervals, successively more ambitious NDCs.  

At COP29 in Baku last year, a new collective quantified goal (NCQG) on climate finance, to at least USD 300 billion per year by 2035, was reached, calling on all actors to work together to scale up financing to developing countries for climate action from all public and private sources.  

Meanwhile, it is expected that the next round of NDCs must deliver on the promise to ramp up renewables and transition away from fossil fuels. At the Bonn June Climate meetings in preparation of annual COP, the closing statement includes a renewed call for fossil fuel phase out, concerns about limited progress on technology and the need for a clear roadmap to the USD 1.3 trillion in climate finance to deliver concrete milestones. It also puts the most vulnerable at the center and supports a tripling of adaptation finance. 

Expectations from COP30 in Belem are very high, including synthesis reports on NDCs and biennial transparency reports. While concerns about climate change are on the rise and negotiations will continue for many years to come, it is important to remind ourselves that climate change is not just about CO2; it is about overconsumption and irresponsible production, irresponsible extraction and use of material. If actions at individual level are important, it is through collective action for a common good, based on the principles of SCP and circular economy, that the fight against climate impacts and building the path towards sustainability can be achieved. 

Guided by science and economy, policy makers can bridge the gap between what is possible and what is needed by knowingly advancing policies that will be well received by most, embracing pragmatism to build trust before handling the most serious and complicated issues, starting with what is possible, creating momentum and helping catalyze new technologies, new economics, and new politics, making accelerated change possible.   

Webinar Session: 

The EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component and the European Environmental Bureau, are convening the webinar, Between Ambitions and Pragmatism for actionable climate outcomes: the circular economy enabler. 

The objectives of the webinar are:  

• To assess the key conclusions, decisions and directions from UNFCCC COP30 with special reference to integration of circular economy principles into climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• To explore how the circular economy-climate linkages could support the operationalization of the COP30 outcomes and their potential impacts to de-risk and attract public and private finance, thereby transforming markets and value chains towards low-carbon and climate-resilient economies.
• To discuss the policies, partnerships, and support mechanisms required to empower businesses, particularly SMEs, as central actors in implementing circular, low-carbon, and resilient solutions at scale.
• To discuss and derive concrete policy guidance and actionable strategies from the COP30 stocktake, focusing on how to effectively implement the material-CE-climate nexus for accelerated on-the-ground results. 

Moderators: 

Ranga PALLAWALA, Expert, Climate Change, EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component 

Ranga is the Expert on SCP integration into nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and compliance with global and regional multilateral environmental and climate change related agreements at the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component. He has extensive experience in international climate change negotiations and working with Governments, business and civil society to assess and design roadmaps to achieve or comply with international climate change standards.

Arab Hoballah, SCP Senior Expert, SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component and Executive Director, SEED

Arab Hoballah serves, since August 2021, as Executive Director, SEED-Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development, aimed at providing tailored support to eco-inclusive MSMEs with adequate policy frameworks, as key contribution to the transition to green and circular economy, through resource efficiency and SCP. He is also currently a SCP Senior Expert for the Pacific at the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component. From 2005 to 2016, Arab was Chief of Sustainable Consumption and Production/SCP in UNEP, where he looked for mainstreaming Resource Efficiency and SCP policies at local, national, regional and global levels, through various sectors, various tools and methodologies and relevant partnerships in close cooperation with governments, business and industry, civil society. A major outcome of this work is the 10YFP, the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on SCP, adopted at Rio+20.

Speakers

Zinaida FADEEVA, Team Leader, SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component

Zinaida Fadeeva is the Team Leader of the Policy Support Component of the SWITCH-Asia Programme. Zinaida has over 25 years leading international professional experience in policy for and practice of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and Education for Sustainable Development, amongst others working with the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Studies of Sustainability (UNU-IAS). Her work has focused on diverse topics such as tourism, plastics, construction, small and medium enterprises, procurement and lifestyle. Zinaida has worked extensively with governments, private sector, international organisations and academia in East, South East, South and Central Asia.

Niclas SVENNINGSEN, Manager, Mitigation Division, UNFCCC

Niclas Svenningsen is a manager at the UNFCCC Secretariat, where he supports UNFCCC’s collaboration with governments, private sector, civil society, and other UN organizations. He has 30 years’ experience from working in the UN across all continents, with a specific focus on sustainable consumption and production, private sector engagement and policy making. Niclas has led and developed a range of UN initiatives in support of engaging private sector-government cooperation in diverse sectors, from carbon markets, heavy industry, construction and transport, to sustainable consumption, nature protection, fashion, sports and tourism. He also acted as UNFCCC’s senior adviser to the Azerbaijani COP29 presidency in 2024 and is currently supporting countries preparation and submission of National Climate Action Plans (aka NDC – Nationally Determined Contributions). He has an educational background in civil engineering and environmental law.

Michael BUCKI, Minister Counsellor for Environment and Agriculture at the EU Delegation to Thailand

Dr. Bucki holds a PhD, and Engineering degree, from the French National School for Forest and Water Management. His core interest is to find and share pragmatic, collective solutions for global citizens, producers and consumers to adapt to rapidly deteriorating “planetary boundaries”, and more specifically to adapt the EU “Green Deal” strategy of sustainable economic growth to the context and needs of emerging economies, fostering mutually profitable (industrial, agro-ecologic) transitions for affordable sustainability and resilience. Prior to joining the EU Delegation to Thailand, he was Counsellor, Head of Section at the EU Delegation of the European Union to India, where he led dialogue and cooperation between the EU and India on “Sustainable Modernisation”: circular economy, biodiversity, transports, smart cities, clean air and water, energy and climate change.

Luc POWELL, Senior Policy Officer for Air Quality and Agriculture, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

Luc Powell leads the EEB’s work on methane reductions in the agriculture sector as part of the Methane Matters Coalition, which spans agriculture, waste, and energy. He recently led a discussion at COP30 linking methane emissions to the environmental and health impacts of ground-level ozone, and advocating for the food-system reforms needed for real reductions. Before joining the EEB, he contributed to New Zealand’s Ardern government under the Resource Management and Building regulatory reforms. With a background in international relations and experience across sectors and jurisdictions, he brings a global perspective on the political and practical challenges of achieving meaningful reform.

Mukesh GULATI, Executive Director, Foundation for MSME Clusters

Mr. Gulati initiated and contributed substantially to the institutionalization of cluster-based Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) policy and implementation framework in India. He also supported similar initiatives in several other developing countries. He coordinated a number of development projects on behalf of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) for 12 years (1996-2008) for MSME development. He represented UNIDO on several international forums and also successfully organized more than 25 international training programmes on cluster development over his career. Mr. Gulati has authored several books and publications in the area of MSME development. He also steered the setting up of the Foundation for MSME Clusters in the year 2005 and nurtured it to become a resilient institution that works with a number of multilateral & bilateral donor institutions besides national ministries and development institutions.

Agenda