No Time to Waste: A Dialogue on Circularity and Sustainability

Climate Week NYC convened global leaders, businesses, civil society, and other actors from around the world to drive progress on innovative, multisectoral solutions to climate challenges. The concept of a global circular economy – one that minimizes waste and prioritizes reuse and regeneration to close resource loops – is key to a climate-resilient future that leaves no one behind. 

Alongside other climate ambitions, a circular economy enables businesses, governments, and societies to refine global systems in ways that protect the environment, enhance resource and energy efficiency, and support broader sustainable development. Yet it isn’t a simple silver bullet—advancing a circular economy brings its own dilemmas and risks, raising important questions around resource availability, technological advancement, human rights and due diligence, equity, consumption patterns, transparency, financing, and more.  

On September 23, the Wilson Center, Norsk Hydro, and the Nobel Peace Center hosted a public dialogue focused on the importance of ramping up investments in a global circular economy while tackling the potential hurdles that come with it. This isn't just about recycling—it's about fundamentally rethinking how we produce and consume. 

Panelists discussed how circular economies can help meet climate and sustainable development goals, foster peace, and promote effective collaboration between governments and industry. They also explored pathways for financing circular economies and shared lessons from policy and private sector initiatives. Insights will inform a follow-up discussion at COP30 in Brazil.