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WCEF2023: main highlights
The programme on 30–31 May consisted mainly of four plenary sessions and a total of 16 parallel sessions during which various stakeholders and policy makers, as well as representatives of public institutions, international organizations, and the business sector gathered. The plenaries explored cross-cutting themes for a diverse, global audience. Several questions had been raised on circularity’s role in the well-being of nature and the economy, youth’s role in the transition, circularity on financial markets, and future trends for a regenerative and resilient economy. The most important topics covered at the conference had been the following:
- Unlocking finance for a circular and regenerative economy;
- Circular solutions to green energy’s material demand;
- How companies should measure their impact on nature;
- New education for a changing world;
- Solutions for circular trade;
- Building blocks for a circular future: trends, policies, and solutions;
- Circular strategies and road maps.
The participants also had access to networking and expo areas throughout the Forum.
![WCEF 2023_1](http://innovative-sustainable-economy.interreg-euro-med.eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/wcef-2023_1-scaled.jpg)
![WCEF 2023_4](http://innovative-sustainable-economy.interreg-euro-med.eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/wcef-2023_4-scaled.jpg)
Euro-MED approach towards the circular economy: the governance projects
The circular economy represents one of the horizontal macro thematic areas of the Innovative Sustainable Economy Mission since circular solutions play a crucial role in the transition to a regenerative and resilient economy. In particular, the Mission aims at:
- Reducing the environmental impact of the current linear production system in key sectors, such as agriculture, food and fisheries, and in the tourism sector. Promoting prevention, reduction and economic recovery of waste, including awareness raising and consumers engagement;
- Increasing cooperation and capacities of stakeholders for closing the loops and support the transition to a circular model.
Expected results include:
- Improvement of product sustainability and increased resilience of economic sectors;
- Adoption of circular and sustainable practices to enable effective waste prevention, reduction and economic recovery;
- Increased cooperation between stakeholders throughout the waste management value chain, including citizen/consumer involvement;
- Development and adoption of circular economy strategies and their integration into existing policies.
The Mission governance projects will facilitate the emergence of innovative solution in this fields developed by the Thematic Projects that will be selected and by other grass root initiatives across the Mediterranean area, with the aim to amplify their impact and narrow the gap with policy making at regional and national level advocating the adoption of systemic and challenge-oriented approaches. In this framework, the Institutional Dialogue Project will contribute to the European Green Deal Strategy through the involvement of all actors for a climate-neutral and circular economy, mobilising research and fostering innovation.