Circular Economy – a key component of water-smart societies for a water-resilient world

This is an in-person side event at the UN Headquarters during the UN 2023 Water Conference. The event is organized by the European Union, the Ministry of Environment of Peru, the United Nations Environment Programme, and Water Europe, and implemented together with partners, including the Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency.

Our current unsustainable economic model is at the root of our triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution. And it has a major water footprint which must be addressed in view of the accelerating global water crisis.

The scientific and political consensus is that transitioning towards a circular and resource-efficient economy offers the best alternative to deal with our current unsustainable consumption of resources. When looking at water, transitioning towards a circular economy means to rethink our production and consumption not only in the water sector itself but across water-dependent sectors, which encompasses first and foremost food, energy, and fashion production.
This transition is key towards a water-resilient world that we aim to achieve globally, building water-smart societies in which the true value of water is recognised, available water sources are managed in such a way that water scarcity and pollution is avoided; the water system is resilient against droughts and floods, and all relevant stakeholders are engaged to guarantee sustainable water governance, while water and resource loops are largely closed in a circular economy. The event will illustrate how the transition can be accelerated by research, public policy frameworks encouraging circularity, innovative business models and technologies, and cross-sectoral partnerships.