ECLAC organizes parallel event "Collaboration of cities towards circularity: Latin American and European experiences"in the framework of the C40 World Mayors Summit

As part of a space for the exchange of experiences and ideas, the parallel event entitled “Collaboration of cities towards circularity: Latin American and European experiences”, allowed promoting collaboration and rapprochement between key actors, to assess initiatives in the field of circular economy and disseminate progress towards a new model of restorative and regenerative development in the region. This transformation requires a collective effort between cities, which play an essential role in the transition towards circularity. This intention is expressed in the Declaration of circular cities in Latin America and the Caribbean, signed on October 25, 2021 prior to COP 26, and in the Declaration of European Circular Citiesunderstood as mechanisms to promote collaboration between stakeholders, institutions, academia, local governments, the private sector and civil society, with the possibility of identifying obstacles, challenges, opportunities and synergies.

The event was attended by Joseluis Samaniego, Director of the Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Division of ECLAC, who led the discussion panel, the Minister of Public Space and Urban Hygiene of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Clara Muzzio, Antonio Muñoz Martínez, Mayor of Seville Spain (recorded message), Jheydi Quiroz, Deputy Mayor of Lima, Maurizio Bezzeccheri, General Manager of Enel Américas, Carolina Piedrafita, Senior Specialist in Urban Development and Housing, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) (virtual participation), Vanessa Esslinger, from the Circular Economy Coalition for Latin America and the Caribbean (virtual participation), and Rodrigo Perpetuo, Executive Director for South America of ICLEI.

ECLAC has been examining how the current development model requires a progressive structural change in production and consumption patterns, capable of addressing the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainability. In this way, José Luis Samaniego, Director of the ECLAC Division of Sustainable Development and Human Settlements, begins the dialogue by highlighting the potential of the circular economy, as a development approach, to conserve nature, reduce greenhouse gas emissions greenhouse, generate growth, exploit local production capacities and close social gaps. In cities, this approach must incorporate the principles of the circular economy in the entire urban system, so that it is resilient and innovative.

In this way, the Declaration of circular cities in Latin America and the Caribbean contributes to the definition of a common vision and the dissemination of success stories, which were successively shared at the event. Recently there is already a website of the initiative of circular citieshoused in the Urban and Cities Platform from ECLAC.

On the one hand, Maurizio Bezzeccheri, General Manager of Enel Américas, pointed out the importance of quantifying circularity in cities to monitor compliance with objectives and facilitate access to financing, emphasizing the holistic nature of the circular economy, which goes beyond waste management, and the need to create cooperation networks. Likewise, he highlighted the capacity of the circular economy to address social problems and the importance of climate governance to ensure the transition.

Subsequently, the Minister of Public Space and Urban Hygiene of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Clara Muzzio, referred to the programs and plans launched by the city, as signatory to the Declaration, especially the Action Plan Climate and the Circular Economy Strategy, (the latter in the initial phase of its development), highlighting the value of public-private partnerships, citizen participation, social inclusion policies and city networks for the circular economy.

Finally, Jheydi Quiroz, Deputy Mayor of Lima, closed the discussion panel by distinguishing some essential elements for the transition to the circular economy, specifically, planning, with a long-term vision, governance and the democratization of environmental awareness. , describing below the initiatives implemented by the city to consider these elements.

Based on the experiences shared during the panel, José Luis Samaniego concluded with a recount of the most relevant lessons and highlighted the obligation to join forces and connect each of the components that enable the transition to the circular economy, offering cities of the region the opportunity for inclusive and sustainable growth.