European Commission The European Union, in cooperation with the Netherlands, is pleased to invite you to the side event "Global Circular Economy for an inclusive and sustainable future", organised in the framework of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York. The event will be hosted by Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, and Stientje Van Veldhoven, Minister for the Environment of the Netherlands. The EU is actively implementing its Circular Economy Action Plan, with a new set of measures adopted in 2018, including a Europe-wide Strategy for Plastics, while also highlighting the international dimension of the circular economy. The 2017 European Consensus on Development, which aligns EU development policy with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, identifies the circular economy as a priority area for which stronger global partnerships are required. Join the discussion on how the circular economy can actively contribute to the transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies, both in developing and developed economies. The event will highlight the possibilities for and the numerous benefits from transformation towards a circular economy, both in developing and developed economies, discussing how it could help to create local jobs, attract investments, and boost inclusive and sustainable growth both within and outside the EU. The event will also present the new EU’s Plastics Strategy and the EU’s determined action to tackle single use plastic. The panel of experts from national governments, business, and non-governmental organisations will explore the role of circularity-based solutions in creating new and better employment opportunities, promote innovation and new business models and the economic and social benefits and trade-offs of a circular economy for developing and developed countries. Participants from the audience will have the opportunity to share their views on how circularity-based solutions can contribute to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as achieving long-term environmental, economic and social benefits at regional and global level. A light lunch will be served. Agenda Opening remarks • Karmenu Vella, Commissioner, Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission • Stientje Van Veldhoven, Minister for Environment, The Netherlands High-level panel discussion Moderation: Stientje Van Veldhoven, Minister for Environment, The Netherlands • Sergio Bergman, Minister of Environment, Argentina • Felix Preston, Deputy Research Director, Energy, Environment and Resources Department , Chatham House • Andrew Steer, President and CEO, World Resources Institute • Jeff Turner, Vice President Sustainability, DSM Closing remarks • Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General, United Nations • Neven Mimica, Commissioner, International Cooperation and Development, European Commission