ADB is organizing a training series on Circular Economy entitled “Accelerating the Circular Economy: Integrating Circularity into Programs, Projects, and Policies”. Delivered through four events in 2024, this initiative of the Environment Group presents cross-sectoral knowledge and experience gained by ADB’s project teams and partners during project design and implementation. The events, led by TA 6669 Promoting Action on Plastic Pollution from Source to Sea in Asia and the Pacific, integrate the circular economy with the wider sustainability and nature-based solutions activities of the Environment Group in progressing project pipelines under ADB’s Strategy 2030 Operational Priority 3 Tackling Climate Change, Building Climate, and Disaster Resilience, and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability.

Circular economy (CE) is becoming increasingly important to address solid waste management, marine litter, and pollution reduction. The upcoming Global Plastics Treaty (GPT) will be a legally binding agreement for countries to end plastic pollution, and implementing CE principles has been cited as one of the solutions under the GPT.

This training is designed for the ADB staff community as well as participating government officials from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The objectives are to: 

• Provide a clear understanding of CE/circularity principles  
• Share CE opportunities beyond solid waste management and recycling through country case studies 
• Identify areas for integration of CE into ADB programs and projects  
• Provide a basic understanding of how to design circular investments  
• Provide an overview of circular environments including policies, governance, technology, innovation, and finance 
• Share current progress on preparations for the Global Plastics Treaty and opportunities for developing member countries and ADB 

The schedules of the four-part training series are below: 

• 21–23 February 2024, Part 1: Getting in the Loop: Enabling Conditions for a Circular Economy (In person, ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines) 
• 14 and 21 May 2024, Part 2: Policy and Governance (Online, 2 sessions, 1 hour each) 
• 2 and 9 July 2024, Part 3: Finance and Mechanisms (Online, 2 sessions, 1 hour each) 
• 1–3 October 2024, Part 4: Applying Circular Economy Principles (In person, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, Philippines)