World Circular Economy Forum 2026 to be held in India

The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 is scheduled to take place in Gandhinagar, India, from September 15–18, 2026. The forum aims to scale the circular economy by convening stakeholders from government, business, academia, and civil society.

UNEP FI will participate in the forum through various sessions, including a webinar on September 10 to launch guidance on circular solutions for achieving nature targets. Additionally, a session on September 15 will focus on mobilizing private capital to finance circular growth, highlighting the need for coordinated action between public and private actors.

Experts emphasize that climate policy must expand beyond renewable energy to include material management. Globally, approximately 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are linked to the lifecycle of materials, including extraction, processing, and disposal. Integrating circular economy principles into industrial and economic policy is viewed as essential for achieving net-zero goals and reducing waste.