Andersen’s address at the global conference, currently being hosted by the Republic of Azerbaijan, highlighted the crucial role of a circular economy in combating climate change. Andersen described the shift from the current linear economy to a circular economy as essential to mitigate the triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
The urgency of action
Andersen began by describing the urgent need for new and ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to keep global temperature rise within safe limits. NDCs are commitments countries make to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as part of climate change mitigation, including the necessary policies and measures for achieving the global targets set out in the Paris Agreement.
Current NDCs suggest a rise between 2.6 to 2.8°C, a scenario that would bring even more severe climate impacts. To limit warming to 1.5°C, global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 42 per cent by 2030 and 57 per cent by 2035. Andersen argued that integrating circular economy approaches is not just beneficial but necessary to meet these targets.
The high cost of the linear economy
The current linear "take, make, and waste" approach to production and consumption is a significant contributor the climate crisis. Material extraction and processing alone account for up to 60 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the broader impacts of this unsustainable development path are vast.
Biodiversity loss and pollution-related damages result in trillions of dollars in economic losses annually and significant social inequality. High-income nations consume six times more materials per capita than low-income countries, underscoring the inequitable distribution of resource use and waste.
Circularity as a solution across sectors
Andersen highlighted two critical examples where circularity can drive meaningful change:
Clean energy transition
The shift to renewable energy requires a massive influx of minerals and metals, with over three billion tons needed by 2050 to meet climate goals. If pursued through a linear approach, this transition could come at a great environmental and social cost. Instead, Andersen underscored the importance of designing systems for reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling to extend the lifespan of energy transition minerals. This strategy can also support more equitable economic models that benefit the nations producing these essential resources.
Combatting plastic pollution
With just nine per cent of plastic waste currently recycled, the environmental toll of plastic pollution is significant, affecting natural systems, human health, and contributing to climate change. Andersen pointed to the upcoming negotiations in South Korea on a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, emphasizing that circular solutions—such as redesigning products for durability and recyclability—must be at the heart of any agreement.
Andersen also emphasised that achieving true circularity requires comprehensive, collaborative efforts, calling for stronger policy frameworks to mainstream sustainable resource use, incentivize circular business models, and promote product longevity through design. She urged a focus on the social dimensions of the transition to ensure it is just and inclusive, highlighting UNEP’s support for initiatives like the newly launched RESCUE program for the ECO region.
The benefits of circularity
Andersen closed her speech by speaking to the benefits nations can gain from embracing circularity; including a stable climate along with multiple co-benefits. These include better human health, increased resilience to economic shocks, reduced raw material costs, more equitable resource sharing, and sustained prosperity without further harm to the planet.
Andersen’s message was clear: circularity is not just an environmental strategy; it is a pathway to a more sustainable and equitable world.