2023.12.10 Sun.

14:45 - 16:00

Enhancing circular actions through “Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Principles”(CEREP) and“Global Circularity Protocol” (GCP)

Organizer

Ministry of the Environment Japan

Co-organizer

World Economic Forum (WEF)/ World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Seminar abstract

Abstract

Highlighting the importance of enhancing Circular Economy(CE) and Resource Efficiency (RE) through value chains for addressing the triple global crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, businesses can play a significant role for meeting our ambitious climate and environment goals. In this regard, the Japanese government, together with Keidanren (the Japan Business Federation), launched Japan Partnership for Circular Economy (J4CE) in March 2021, steadily enhancing public-private collaboration. In this seminar, the Ministry of the Environment Japan (MOEJ), co-hosting with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), will introduce the best practices of CERE by the Japanese and US business sectors, aiming to provide an opportunity for the audience to consider how to accelerate their own global climate change action through CERE. We will also introduce the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Principles (CEREP) endorsed at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in June 2023 and the Global Circularity Protocol (GCP) presented and adopted during the Stockholm +50 in June 2022, at the same time, will discuss how CEREP/GCP could be integrated into circular economy initiatives in private sector.

Program

Opening Remarks -4 min-

Mr. MATSUZAWA Yutaka Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Opening Remarks -4 min-

H.E. Ms. Vivianne Heijnen / Minister for the Environment, the Netherlands (Video Message)

Presentation -6 min-

Mr. YOSHIDA Satoshi Director for International Resource Circulation and Circular Economy, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Presentation -6 min-

Mr. Dominic Waughray Executive Vice President, WBCSD

Panel Discussion and Q&A -53 min-

ー

Closing Remarks -1 min-

Mr. Dominic Waughray Executive Vice President, WBCSD

Closing Remarks -1 min-

Mr. MATSUZAWA Yutaka Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Speakers

In-person

• Mr. MATSUZAWA Yutaka / Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
• Mr. Dominic Waughray / Executive Vice President, WBCSD
• Mr. YOSHIDA Satoshi / Director for International Resource Circulation and Circular Economy, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
• Mr. Michihiro Kishimoto / Environment Strategy Director Global Environment Business Group, Hitachi,Ltd.
• Dr. Fernando Gomez / Head of the Resource Systems and Resilience Program, Center for Nature and Climate, WEF
• Ms. Pascale Wautelet / Vice President, Global Research & Development and Sustainability, Avery Dennison Corporation
• Ms. Jenny Davis-Peccoud / Sustainability Practice Founder, Bain & Company

Online

• H.E. Ms. Vivianne Heijnen / Minister for the Environment, the Netherlands (Video Message)
• Ms. Yumi OTSUKA / Chief Sustainability Officer

Related Links

• Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Principles (CEREP)
• Global Circularity Protocol (GCP)

Session Summary

Enhancing Circular Economy(CE) and Resource Efficiency (RE) through value chains is increasingly important to address the triple global crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Businesses can play a significant role for meeting the ambitious climate and environment goals. In this regard, the Japanese government, together with Keidanren (the Japan Business Federation), launched Japan Partnership for Circular Economy (J4CE) in March 2021, steadily enhancing public-private collaboration.
Co-organized by the Ministry of the Environment Japan (MOEJ), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), this seminar invited speakers from the Japanese and US business sectors and international organizations to share their CERE initiatives and discussed how global climate action through CERE can be enhanced in business sector. The Japanese government shared the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Principles (CEREP) which was endorsed at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in June 2023, while WBCSD introduced the Global Circularity Protocol (GCP) presented and adopted during the Stockholm +50 in June 2022. During panel discussion, cases of how CERE can be integrated into corporate activities - from corporate strategy, to creation of new circular businesses, and collaboration/cooperation with stakeholders - were introduced by business sector panelists. The challenges and solutions in promoting CERE in private sector and the role of, and expectations to, CEREP/GCP and governments and international organizations were also discussed.

Event Materials

• Summary of Discussions

Message and Results

In the discussion, there was a shared recognition that the differences in regulations and standards among countries and the absence of common circularity assessment methods, indicators, and definitions are posing challenges in scaling global circular business. Participants expressed their expectation that the GCP will contribute to overcoming these challenges through the realization of a level-playing field, enhanced transparency of circularity of companies and value chains, and mobilization of capital. In addition, the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, international cooperation and the role of governments and international organizations in realizing an open circular economy, policy consistency, and overcoming disparities in country efforts and access to information among stakeholders were discussed.
The complementarity between CEREP which seeks to promote CE in countries and GCP as a corporate accountability tool and the importance of strengthening future collaboration was confirmed.