In the lead-up to the Second World Summit for Social Development, the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) is hosting a 2025 webinar series exploring the intersection of the circular economy and social inclusion. The series aims to foster dialogue, share best practices and shape actionable messages for the global community.

The summit, taking place on 4-6 November 2025 in Doha, Qatar, will renew commitments from the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action and accelerate progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It offers a pivotal moment to reaffirm global commitments to inclusive, equitable development.

The series will feature four virtual webinars from May to October 2025, each addressing a key aspect of how circular economy practices can advance social equity.

The first webinar took place on Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 15:30 CEST. It highlighted how circular economy models can be designed to promote social integration and equitable access to benefits like employment, entrepreneurship and inclusive value chains.

Moderator: Fabienne Pierre, GGKP Coordinator, UNEP

Speakers:  

• Jenitha Badul, Senior Manager/Policy Advisor for Sustainability Programmes and Projects, at the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa
• Elias Ayuk, Agricultural and Natural Resource Economist
• Sonia Dias, Leading Global Expert on Inclusive Waste Management Systems, WIEGO

Relevant resources:

Climate-Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies: Waste Pickers’ Experiences from Brazil - WIEGO

Multi case studies on EPR

Waste pickers and cities paper

Green Business Guideline for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, Start-ups and Entrepreneurs

Waste picker integration guideline for South Africa: Building the Recycling Economy and Improving Livelihoods through Integration of the Informal Sector

Recognising the Informal Waste Sector in Advanced Waste Treatment