On Monday 22 February, the European Union launched the Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and in coordination with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
The event took place on the margins of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5, Nairobi, Kenya).
To date, the EU and eleven countries with which the European Commission has negotiated (Canada, Chile, Colombia, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Rwanda and South Africa) have joined this non-binding instrument containing political commitments, such as advocating the transition to a global circular economy and achieving sustainable consumption and production (see EUROPE 12650/10).
“The EU shows its commitment to work on those matters globally”, commented the European Commissioner for the Environment, Virginijus Sinkevičius.
On the same day, the report ‘Making Peace with Nature’ was launched, bringing together the findings of global scientific assessments of the climate, biodiversity and pollution crises. According to the report, the world can transform its relationship with nature and tackle these crises together to secure a sustainable future and prevent future pandemics. This report is intended to support reflection on the achievements and failures of environmental policies over the last 50 years. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)