06/11/2024 | In view of the increasing challenges posed by climate change, resource scarcity and environmental pollution, the concept of the circular economy is becoming increasingly important. Reusing and recycling products can help conserve natural resources,lreduce the destruction of landscapes and habitats and protect biodiversity. Another key advantage of the circular economy is its potential to lower total greenhouse gas emissions each year.
More than 1,000 decision-makers will meet at the Circular Valley Forum, the major annual meeting of the circular economy, on 15 November in the Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal. Among the speakers will be Prof Dr Raimund Bleischwitz, Scientific Director of the ZMT, who will share the stage with many influential personalities from politics, business, science and the arts as an expert on the circular economy and sustainability. Among the announced speakers are Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Sarah Ryglewski, Minister of State for Federal-State Relations and Sustainable Development to the Chancellor.
the Circular Valley Forum on 15 November in the Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal is all about action: “In recent years, we have brought the idea of the circular economy to people's minds and gained many partners for it,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, initiator of Circular Valley and Chairman of the associated foundation. “It's great to see that we are now working together to put it into practice.”
This approach is supported by more than 1,200 decision-makers at the Circular Valley Forum: CEOs from large corporations and innovative SMEs, managers from research and universities as well as key players from civil society. There will be two formats in the Historische Stadthalle: discussions on the key topics on the large stage and confidential rounds on individual issues in the various conference rooms of the historic building.
Nathanael Liminski, Head of the State Chancellery and NRW Minister for Europe, confirms the special significance of the Circular Valley Forum: “It is a place of hands-on confidence.” Liminski will be attending the forum, as will Sarah Ryglewski, minister of state in the chancellery, Mona Neubaur, Deputy Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia and patron of Circular Valley, and Karl-Josef Laumann, NRW labour minister.
One example of this hands-on confidence is the cooperation between North Rhine-Westphalia and Flanders. At the Circular Valley Forum 2023, the Minister Presidents of both regions agreed on the first cross-border cooperation in the circular economy. At this year's forum, it will be possible to see how the Memorandum of Understanding has now come to life. The participants, including many partners from the Circular Valley network, are working together on three projects: in the chemical industry, on batteries and on building materials.
This work will be a topic on the main stage. Other topics include logistics and the special role of ports, the national circular economy strategy recently presented by the German government, regional cooperation and communicating the circular economy through art. The artists Tony Cragg and HA Schult will surprise visitors in Wuppertal with special contributions.
There will be a glimpse into the future of the circular economy in the early evening of the Circular Valley Forum. 18 start-ups from six continents will present their business models on stage. The founders come to Wuppertal from Argentina, Australia, the USA, India, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania and Europe. The young companies' ideas focus on renewable energy and energy storage, mechanical recycling of plastics and the circular use of machinery and equipment. And they are all ideally suited for rapid implementation with partners that they have met at the Circular Valley Forum.
More information on the forum can be found here.