In our project on Circular Societies, we aim to synthesize different angles and open questions around the topic to be able to present a comprehensive view and perspective on what a Circular Society means in light of our vision and mission.
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The Wyss Academy is seeking collaboration with brave allies who are willing to explore the unknown, pose uncomfortable questions and bring together ideas that will shape a common understanding of a circular society. We aim to build exciting and unlikely relationships between individuals and organizations around the world.
The Wyss Academy at the Summit of the Future and Climate Week New York City
As part of our Circular Society Initiative, the Wyss Academy has joined forces with Chatham House and other international partners on the Global Circular Economy Roadmap initiative. In 2024, this collaboration produced its first key output—the Circular Economy Futures 2050 policy paper, which will be presented during the UN Summit of the Future and New York City Climate Week in September 2024.
At the heart of this initiative is our commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that voices often left out of these global discussions—particularly those from the Global South—are heard and reflected. Through a series of roundtables held in Nairobi, Lima, Bangkok, Delhi, and Geneva, and convened with the support of Swiss embassies, we explored how local practices can shape global circular economy policies. The insights and recommendations from these roundtables have been integral to the creation of the policy paper.
During the Summit of the Future and Climate Week NYC, the Wyss Academy will co-organize two side events where the Circular Economy Futures 2050 paper will be presented.
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Event 1: Global Circular Economy Roadmap Initiative
Making the Circular Economy Work for Global Development: How the UN Summit of the Future Can Deliver
📅 Date: September 23, 2024
🕒 Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (New York Time)
📍 Venue: Bahá'i International Community's United Nations Office, 866 United Nations Plz Ste 120, New York, NY 10017
👥 Format: In-person roundtable (invitation only) and online participation (registration required)
🔗 Official website Chatham House
Event Focus:
This roundtable aims to unite stakeholders from intergovernmental organizations, businesses, governments, and civil society. Key discussions will focus on:
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Reflections on the role of circularity in shaping the post-2030 SDG framework
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Institutional and international coordination for a globally inclusive circular economy
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Joint strategies to advance global circular economy collaboration
Speakers Include:
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Dr. Patrick Schröder, Chatham House
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H.E. Stefan Löfven, Former Prime Minister of Sweden
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Tshilidzi Marwala, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations
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Tatjana von Steiger, Wyss Academy for Nature
To register for the online participation click the bottom to follow the registration hosted by Chatham House.
Event 2: Circular Economy Futures 2050: Shaping the Action Agenda
📅 Date: September 26, 2024
🕒 Time: 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM (New York Time)
📍 Venue: Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016
👥 Format: In-person event (by invitation only) with a livestream available for the key session
📺 Livestream: 8:45 AM – 9:15 AM (New York Time)
🔗Official Website Climate Week NYC
Event Focus:
This event brings together global leaders, policymakers, scientists, and civil society to drive forward the circular economy transition. Key topics include:
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Exploring the future of circularity and rapid pathways to implement circular strategies
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Analyzing global resource management and coordinated circular economy policies
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Presenting the Circular Economy Futures 2050 policy paper, focusing on international cooperation in policy, trade, and finance
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Discussing the role of finance and trade in enabling circularity
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Showcasing the impact of the Global Circularity Protocol on climate, nature, and social equity
Join the Livestream
📅 Date: September 26, 2024
🕒 Time: 8:45 AM – 9:15 AM (New York Time)
We are pleased to offer a livestream for Session II of this event, where Dr. Fiona Stappmanns from the Wyss Academy and Dr. Patrick Schröder from Chatham House will present the vision and key insights from the global roundtables. This session will delve into the Circular Economy Futures 2050 paper and its recommendations.
Please fill out the form below to secure your spot for the livestream.
Our journey since 2021
In May 2021 we started out by wondering: “why should the Wyss Academy engage with the topic of Circular Economy?”. However, our collective journey then began with the realization that the Wyss Academy does not hold all the answers. Instead, we decided to start by asking questions and introducing new perspectives into an important discussion.
In January, we organized three workshops to delve into the transformation towards a circular society. We explored how to achieve this transformation in an inclusive and globally just manner while integrating discussions on net-zero emissions, biodiversity, and other natural resources.
With the valuable insights gathered from these workshops, it was time for action. We held two workshops where participants from all over the world collectively developed and discussed ideas for implementing a circular society. Following this, we launched a call for proposals.
To our delight, we received 27 proposals from 10 different countries across four continents, all centered around circular food systems and creating alternative livelihoods to resource-extractive activities. After a thorough pre-selection process, seven video pitches were submitted, and our jury, along with the audience at the 2291 festival, chose three winners for funding.
CIRCULAR SOCIETIES DISCUSSIONS
Stay updated about our next steps
Versión en español
WYSS ACADEMY
Sociedad Circular
Nuestro proyecto de Sociedades Circulares busca sintetizar las diferentes perspectivas y preguntas que se generan alrededor del tema y presentar una visión conjunta del significado de sociedad circular alineadas con nuestra misión y visión.
Buscamos aliados dispuestos a explorar lo desconocido, “pensar fuera de la caja” y traer ideas innovadoras para co-crear un concepto común sobre Sociedad Circular. De la misma manera, queremos construir relaciones emocionantes y diversas entre las personas y organizaciones alrededor del mundo.
Nuestro viaje desde 2021
En mayo de 2021 empezamos preguntándonos: "¿por qué debería la Academia Wyss ocuparse del tema de la Economía Circular?". Sin embargo, durante nuestro viaje comenzamos a entender de que la Academia Wyss no tiene todas las respuestas. En su lugar, decidimos comenzar entonces planteándonos preguntas e introduciendo nuevas perspectivas con el fin de generar un relevante debate.
En enero, organizamos tres talleres para profundizar en la transformación hacia una sociedad circular. Exploramos cómo lograr esta transformación de forma inclusiva y globalmente justa, integrando al mismo tiempo debates sobre las emisiones cero, la biodiversidad y otros recursos naturales. De allí surgieron valiosas ideas que recogimos para luego pasar a la acción.
Celebramos dos talleres en donde participantes de todo el mundo desarrollaron y debatieron colectivamente ideas para establecer una sociedad circular. Luego lanzamos una convocatoria de propuestas.
Para nuestro deleite, recibimos 27 propuestas de 10 países diferentes de cuatro continentes, todas ellas centradas en los sistemas alimentarios circulares y en la creación de medios de vida alternativos a las actividades de extracción de recursos. Tras un minucioso proceso de preselección, se presentaron siete propuestas de vídeo, y nuestro jurado, junto con el público del festival 2291, eligió a tres ganadores para su financiación.
*Para ver los videos ganadores, dirígete al comienzo de esta página.
CIRCULAR SOCIETIES DISCUSIÓN
Mantente al tanto de nuestros próximos pasos
EVENTS & CONFERENCES
Previous Conversations
2022/09/23
Swiss Sustainability Forum 2022
How can Switzerland become more sustainable? This very question was discussed from 23 to 24 September in the Kursaal Bern. As a partner of the Swiss Sustainability Forum 2022, we dived into the complex topic together with the more than 500 conference participants and were inspired by personalities such as Adrianne Grillbride (ESG Specialist, on running), Ellen MacArthur (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) and Solomon Baumgartner (CIO, Sibelco).
During our deep dive session, lead by Théo Fischer and Fiona Stappmanns, over 100 stakeholders from politics, business, civil society, and NGOs, discussed the opportunities of a circular society for Switzerland. We thank all the participants for bringing in their different perspectives, critical remarks and inspiring calls for action and are looking forward to diving deeper into the discussion and co-creating our vision of a circular society with you.
Further information on the Swiss Sustainability Forum can be found at www.forum.sustainableswitzerland.ch/en/
Photo: ©SustainableSwitzerland
