The Coordination Group (CG) is a key component of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform. Its members come from a broad spectrum of organisations and are responsible for enabling and implementing the Platform’s vision and activities. The mandate of the current CG will end in October 2025.
With a view to the future CG, the European Commission has published a call for proposals under the LIFE Programme for the Environment and Climate Action. The call will fund a project intended to strengthen the CG’s role in advancing the transition to a circular economy, including circular business models.
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Environment will hold an information session for potential applicants on Monday 8 July at 10:00 – 12:00 CEST.
During the World Circular Economy Forum 2024, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen announced two initiatives intended to advance the circular economy at global level.
The establishment of the EU Circular Economy Resource Centre under the Global Gateway strategy will facilitate peer-to-peer exchanges and partnerships between EU and third-country stakeholders, fostering the uptake of sound circular economy policies and business models worldwide. The Commissioner announced a EUR 15 million commitment from the European Commission.
In addition, Commissioner Urpilainen launched the "SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa” programme. The European Commission will contribute EUR 40 million over five years to this programme, which will promote the transition to circular economies.
The European Commission has announced a EUR 40 million investment in the SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa (SWITCH-2-CE in ESA) programme.
This programme aims to advance circularity in Eastern and Southern African countries as they shift from a linear to a circular economy. It will do so by creating an enabling environment for investment in circular business models and improving access to the necessary skills and finance.
The initiative will help circular economy projects overcome the challenges related to development and investment readiness. It will bring local governments, investors, Project Development Assistance providers and external service providers together with CircularInvest and DEFINITE-CCRI project owners and SMEs to foster the exchange of expertise, pinpoint opportunities and generate momentum.
Basically, it will advance circular economy objectives by facilitating the development of financeable, high-impact, low-risk circular projects.
By registering, you will be part of the network mailing list and invited to all future information sessions.
The LIFE Calls for proposals 2024 have been published on the Funding & tender opportunities portal. Most of the submission deadlines are in September 2024 and support for applicants is available.
The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Created in 1992, it has co-financed thousands of projects. The LIFE programme 2021-2027 is managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency and has a budget of EUR 5.4 billion.
All of this and more will be presented at the EU LIFE24 Info Days event. The comprehensive programme will cover issues such as LIFE calls for proposals - application and evaluation, Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, Circular Economy and Quality of Life and Introduction to LIFE Clean Energy Transition. There will be presentations, Q&A sessions and parallel sessions. Come and find out all about it!
During this event in Rotterdam on 10 June, guest speakers Brian Fath, Michael Roos, Katy Gillespie and Şerban Scrieciu will introduce the audience to alternative economic theories, and how these can play a pivotal role in addressing the complex challenges of the Anthropocene era.
This free event is organised by the Erasmus University Rotterdam initiative Dynamics of Inclusive Prosperity, in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Climate Economics for Nature and Society - ICENS lab.
The first step towards circular financing in the Nordics
The circular economy is a resource and energy-efficient economic model, built on high value retention in products and materials. It is suggested as a core strategy to tackle the climate and environmental crises that face humanity. Business models that promote and drive value retention play a key role to achieve a more circular economy, and for circular business to thrive, financing of these circular business models is a must.
The Transition Group for Circular Finance is a working group within the Nordic Circular Hotspot. It was initiated by RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) and aims to address challenges and develop solutions for financing circular business models.
The 8th World Circular Economy Forum hits Brussels from 15 to 18 April 2024 to turn circular visions into actions. The world’s leading event for circular economy thinkers, doers and leaders will showcase the most impactful circular solutions from Europe and around the world. Online participation is open to everyone.
CircularInvest and DEFINITE-CCRI are launching the Circular Investment Readiness Network, a Europe-wide community of practice to help circular economy projects overcome development and funding challenges.
The initiative will officially kick off online on 21 November, from 10:00 to 12:00 CET.