The opening of the 30th UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, marks a significant moment in the global climate agenda. Coinciding with the decade anniversary of the Paris Agreement, this COP is the platform for the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), NDC 3.0, and reflects on 30 years of multilateral climate diplomacy. The stakes for ambitious and actionable outcomes have never been higher.

Climate change is a central pillar of the triple planetary crisis, which also includes biodiversity loss and pollution. These crises are deeply interlinked, demanding systemic and integrated solutions. The recent Climate Leaders' Summit preceding COP30 highlighted that addressing these challenges in isolation is no longer viable; a synergistic approach is essential for effective global action.

Global material use has tripled since the 1970s and continues to rise. Paradoxically, many climate solutions such as the transition to renewable energy and large-scale adaptation infrastructure rely heavily on material-intensive processes. Without integrating resource efficiency at the core of climate strategies, we risk creating a vicious cycle: climate solutions that inadvertently escalate resource demand, thereby exacerbating environmental pressures and undermining our mitigation efforts.

This is where Circular Economy (CE) principles offer a transformative pathway. By designing out waste, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems, a circular economy directly tackles the resource-emission nexus. It provides the systemic framework to decouple economic activity from resource consumption and environmental degradation. The relevance of CE in raising climate ambition is increasingly recognized, as reflected in the first Global Stocktake (GST) and under the Sharm-el-Sheikh Mitigation Ambitation and Implementation Work Programme mandated by the UNFCCC COP. However, this critical link remains underutilized in many national climate plans and requires a prominent place at COP30.

The EU SWITCH-Asia programme is working and advocating of bridging this gap, under its overall goal of supporting the transition of countries in the Asia Pacific region to become resource efficient, low carbon and circular economies. The SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component actively supports countries through Technical Advisory projects across South Asia, Central Asia, and the Pacific in integrating circular economy and material efficiency into their core climate strategies, including NDC 3.0 and Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS). Through targeted capacity building, policy advisory services, and multi-stakeholder dialogues, the Programme influenced national processes to embed CE as a key enabler for more sustainable, resilient, and ambitious climate action. Encouragingly, a significant number of countries are now explicitly incorporating circular economy approaches into their NDCs, recognizing their dual benefits for climate mitigation and sustainable development.

COP30 presents a significant opportunity to place this missing link at the forefront of the climate agenda and discussions. As parties and other stakeholders gather to review progress and chart the course for enhanced NDCs, it is imperative to critically assess how resource efficiency and circular models can unlock greater mitigation potential. The SWITCH-Asia programme will engage with parties and stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of circular economy principles as integral to effective, inclusive, and ambitious climate strategies.

As the deliberations in Belém unfold, the EU SWITCH-Asia Programme remains committed to advancing dialogue, fostering knowledge exchange, and building partnerships that amplify the role of the circular economy in climate resilience and mitigation.

Join Our Partners’ Events at COP30

 11 November | 16:00–17:00 (BRT) | Pakistan Pavilion, COP Blue Zone – Belem

13 November | 16:45–18:15 (BRT) | Side Event Room 1, COP Blue Zone – Belem Register here

Related resources

• White Papers: Integrating Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and Climate Change Policy 
• SCP Policies and Actions in the Pacific 
• Enhancing Climate Ambition and through SCP and Circular Economy in Central Asia

Banner photo credit: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, speaking during the Opening Plenary of the Belém Climate Summit. (Photo: © UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth)