【Agenda of the Event】
Item
Speakers

Logistical Explanation
Ministry of the Environment Japan: Mr. Takaaki Ito

Opening remarks
Minister of the Environment Japan: Dr. Tsuyoshi Michael Yamaguchi
Minister for Environment of the Netherlands: Steven van Weyenberg

Group Photo
Ministers, the moderator and panellists

Panel discussion
[Moderator]
Mission Possible Partnership: Ms. Faustine Delasalle, Co-Executive Director

[Panelists]
• European Union: Dr. Florika Fink Hooijer, Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission
• Colombia: Mr. Alex Saer, Director of Climate Change and Risk Management, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development
• African Development Bank: Mr. Al-Hamndou Dorsouma, Acting Director for Climate and Green Growth
• Holcim: Mr Cédric de Meeûs, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Government relations
• SABIC: Dr. Bob Maughon, Executive Vice President, CTO/CSO
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Mr. Jocelyn Blériot, Executive Lead, International Institutions & Governments

Closing
Ministry of the Environment Japan: Mr. Takaaki Ito

• • Dr. Tsuyoshi Michael Yamaguchi Ministry of the Environment Japan Minister
  • Ms. Faustine Delasalle Mission Possible Partnership and Director, Energy Transitions Commission Co-Executive Director
  • Mr. Joss Blériot International Institutions & Governments at Ellen MacArthur Foundation Executive Lead
  • Mr. Alex Saer Climate Change and Risk Management, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Columbia Director
  • Mr. Al-Hamdou Dorsouma Climate and Green Growth , African Development Bank Acting Director
  • Mr Cédric de Meeûs Public Affairs and Government relations, at Holcim Vice-President
  
  ▼Online speakers
  • Steven van Weyenberg Ministry for Environment of the Netherlands Minister
  • Dr. Florika Fink Hooijer Environment Department, European Commission Directorate-General
  • Dr. Bob Maughon Saudi Basic Industries Corporation Executive Vice President, CTO/CSO

This COP side event was participated by Dr. Yamaguchi, the Minister of the Environment, Japan, and Mr. Steven van Weyenberg, the Minister of the Environment, the Netherlands, as well as the keynote speakers from different sectors, including governments, international organisations, global companies and NGOs.
In the opening session, Minister Yamaguchi emphasised the importance of moving towards a CE in order to solve three crises we are currently facing: climate change, natural extinction and environmental pollution. He shared the Japan's contribution to these critical issues, including the recent formulation of the Law for promoting plastic circulation, the establishment of public-private partnerships such as the Japan Partnership for Circular Economy and contribution at the G20 platforms. The Minister for Environment of the Netherlands stressed that the practice of CE is now an inevitable choice, which will also contribute to tackling climate change and biodiversity issues. He emphasized the importance of public procurement in the transition to carbon neutrality and CE, and the need for scaling-up of the existing efforts.
During the panel discussion, the panelists actively discussed on the topics covering the potential of CE to mitigate climate change, biodiversity and resource scarcity, as well as to enhance market competitiveness. The discussion has concluded by highlighting the importance of further actions to be made in areas, such as fashion/textiles, food, plastics, electronics and construction. Mainstreaming the CE agenda and optimizing the recycling industry were also stressed, particularly in the context of emerging and developing countries. The panelists also shared the significance of promoting the collaboration across the whole value-chain, and of developing the necessary policy and private actions to further make the CE business cases, scale them up to the global level, and expand innovation with financial investment.

This event discussed the importance of transition to a circular economy (CE) in achieving carbon neutrality, as well as sharing the implementation challenges and possible collaboration. At the end of the active panel discussion, the speakers shared the significance of making the CE business cases, linking the CE with climate change and biodiversity issues, developing a standardised framework for further recycled material use, and mainstreaming the CE debate in regional agendas. The event was concluded by identifying the importance to take further collaboration and cooperation across different sector at the international and regional levels for achieving the CE and carbon neutrality.