Climate change is the single greatest challenge humanity has ever faced, threatening water and food security, health, livelihoods, and the safety of billions of people together with drastic negative impact on global ecosystem balance. UNDP’s ambitious “Climate Promise 2025” is deploying direct support to over 90 countries on the preparation of their national climate plans, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0, as a contribution to the UN System coordinated efforts and the NDC Partnership.
As part of this support effort, UNDP is supporting countries under its Pledge to Impact Programme to integrate circular economy measures into their NDCs 3.0 for increased climate ambition, while supporting a just transition for all. This is achieved through its joint UNDP, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)/One Planet Network and UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) toolbox “Building Circularity into NDCs”.
The “Building Circularity into NDCs” is a practical toolbox focused on each stage of a conceptualized four-stage policy cycle, from problem and policy identification to policy implementation and evaluation. It allows policymakers to walk through or jump in at any stage of the policy cycle from the assessment of specific problems and circular policy interventions to the implementation of circular policy instruments and their evaluation – and options to report these actions in their NDC. Given the cross-cutting nature of both the climate and circular economy agendas, the toolbox can also be useful for line ministries involved in the NDC process, such as Ministries of Industry, Agriculture, Planning, Energy, among others.
Application of the toolbox has been supported with regional capacity-building and south-south exchange workshops for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Pacific regions on the sidelines of reginal climate weeks and the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF). The workshops aimed to:
- Help build the capacities of policymakers on how to integrate circular economy measures in their new NDC by using the toolbox – through live collective demonstrations and deep-dive exercises;
- Provide a platform for policymakers to share experiences, exchange best practices and lessons learned and identify opportunities for circular economy integration into NDCs;
- Build a community of policymakers who are working on circular economy and climate and enable them to get to know each other and foster south-south collaboration on these two agendas; and
- Train UNEP science partners in Latin America, Africa and Asia, enabling them to support governments in the region with applying the toolbox.
We are proud to support a growing number of countries to implement the toolbox to help inform their NDCs 3.0 and national strategies, including Brazil, Costa Rica (self-funded), Ecuador, Philippines, South Africa (self-funded), Viet Nam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Across regions, these early movers are using the methodology to identify new mitigation pathways, unlock green jobs, reduce pressure on natural resources and increase resilience, while integrating circular economy measures directly into national climate planning and implementation processes.
Let’s put the spotlight on a handful of these circular climate champions.
Ecuador: Decarbonising construction through innovative circular solutions
Identified hotpots of GHG emissions and material use in the economy which helped prioritize the Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) sector, specifically the cement and concrete value chains. The development and testing of a composite material from end-of-life tyres shows significant promise, with circular construction practices achieving cumulative emissions reductions of up 178 kt CO₂-eq by 2035, driven by the introduction of the composite material into the market.
South Africa: Material circularity opportunities in mining-fabricated metals and quarrying-construction value chains
Identified opportunities for material circularity in mining-fabricated metals and quarrying-construction value chains and identified 8 viable circular economy measures which, if implemented, could lead to GHG emissions reductions of up to 52 percent in the building and civil engineering construction sub-sectors.
Viet Nam: Circular agriculture practices in the coffee and rice value chains
Demonstrated the feasibility of circular agriculture practices and GHG emissions reductions by developing a tailored Carbon Calculator for Circular Practices in Rice Production and a Handbook on Circular Economy Models in Coffee Production to assist practitioners.
Brazil: From food to construction, assessing opportunities for climate action and a just transition
Nineteen circular economy opportunities were identified in food and construction value chains. Analysis showed potential for GHG emissions reduction and job creation. Aligned with the National Circular Economy Plan and integrated into sectoral mitigation strategies for NDC implementation under the National Climate Plan.
These initial results highlight the potential and opportunity for circular economy to not only accelerate climate action but also drive sustainable development, build resilient food systems, decarbonise industries, and strengthen livelihoods, and usher in more equitable and mindful patterns of consumption and production – one that is in harmony with people, nature, and our planet.
