This is the World Circular Economy Forum Regional Side Workshop, introducing policy documents, reviewing case studies on successful implementation of the circular economy (CE). This high-level dialogue session was attended by Government officials in the Asia Pacific region from the Ministries of Natural Resources Management, Development, Industry and Trade, Economy, Climate Change, local authorities, representatives from the private sector as well as global experts in the field. On the Vietnamese side, there was the attendance of Mr. Tran Hong Ha – Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.
The objective of the Workshop is to Explore the potential of a CE platform to aid in the recovery of COVID-19; Discuss barriers to the integration of the CE concept into sustainable development frameworks; Building official government knowledge and capacity to formulate policies towards a CE for sustainable development; Review of country case studies, highlighting best practices for transition to CE.
The current model of extractive industrial production – “mining-producing-waste” – has negatively impacted the global climate, making resources scarce and impacting biodiversity. In CE production and consumption include sharing, renting, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling materials and products for as long as possible, extending product lifecycles and storing raw materials, materials in the economy wherever possible.
Minister Tran Hong Ha affirmed: “Economic transition to CE, green economy, low-carbon economy is the inevitable trend of the times. Implementing CE is a way for Vietnam to fulfill its international responsibility in implementing its commitments on environmental protection and climate change, implementing its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and supporting businesses. reduce the risk of overproduction and resource scarcity crisis; create motivation to invest, innovate technology, reduce production costs, expand supply chains, and at the same time create new markets, new job opportunities, improve the health of people, communities and the world nature. A successful transition to the CE model requires the participation of all stakeholders from government agencies, mining and raw materials businesses, processors, manufacturers, distributors distributors, retailers, consumers, garbage collectors”.
At the Workshop, experts and speakers presented innovative researches on key aspects of the CE platform: Regulation, Legal Framework, regional and national policies, opportunities for the private sector, and innovation in cities to promote the CE approach.
Mr. Gregorio Rafael Bueta, Lecturer at Law School, Ateneo de Manila University presented the Regulations and Legal Framework for Plastic Waste: “Extended Responsibilities of Producers, which cites policy initiatives and CE experience in the Philippines”. Speaker Emine Eda Unal, Deputy Director of Investment Banking, Bank for Investment and Development of Turkey raised Finance issues for CE citing investment cases in Turkey. In addition, the speakers also provided the policy direction and roadmap of the whole region for ASEAN and East Asia and raised the issue of innovation in CE for cities, citing the waste-to-energy (WtE) development in Bangladesh.
The workshop was a success, which opening up perspectives on the approach to CE transition. A smooth and sustainable transition towards CE, knowledge enhancement, and innovation requires the development of financing and facilitation policies along the entire value chain.
Source: An Binh, Institute of Strategy, Policy on natural resources and environment.
