The Circular Economy is an emerging theme internationally. A Circular Economy is a systemic approach to decouple economic development and activity from consuming finite resources. A Circular Economy will allow ADB to tackle global environmental challenges, including climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, while supporting economic development and reducing poverty.

In July-August 2021, ADB's Environment Thematic Group hosted a 4-part webinar series entitled, Sustainable Financing for Nature Positive Investments: Tools for Integrating Economic and Market-Based Instruments into Projects.

The first webinar of the Virtual Dialogues on Resilient Infrastructure for 2021 focused on "business unusual for resilient urban infrastructure”. The webinar brought together experts and practitioners to discuss opportunities to accelerate innovation for resilient urban infrastructure.

Infrastructure is central to improving the lives of people and achieving inclusive and sustainable development. ADB recognizes that investing in resilient infrastructure systems is a human, environmental and economic imperative with clear economic benefits. Asia and the Pacific will need to invest $26.2 trillion in infrastructure during 2016–2030 to maintain its growth momentum, eradicate poverty, and respond to climate change.

During the COVID-19 outbreak in Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China (PRC), infectious medical waste increased by 600% from 40 tons per day to 240 tons per day. This quickly overwhelmed existing medical transport and disposal infrastructure around hospitals.

Other countries are likely to face similar challenges. It is critical that additional waste management systems are put in place to help reduce the further spread of COVID-19 and the emergence of other diseases.

Sean Wihera of Clarity Movement discussed their organization’s experiences on applications of new low-cost air quality management technologies that enable advanced performance-based allocations for smaller or highly localized clean air investments. Specifically he discussed how real-time emissions data can be used to better calculate the public health benefits and corresponding economic benefits of city/ neighborhood-scale investments, such as zero emission public transportation.

This workshop aims to disseminate the findings and technical guidance materials developed during Phase 1 of ADB's Technical Assistance on Supporting the Implementation of Environment Related SDGs in Asia and the Pacific, and disseminate knowledge, experiences and lessons learnt from the Phase 2 in-country subprojects from Mongolia, the Philippines and Viet Nam, and other relevant case studies. It also seeks to agree on the next steps in taking forward this agenda.

François Lesage, CEO of Plastic Flamingo, shared the social enterprise’s creative way to help address marine plastic pollution and post-disaster recovery—a transitional shelter made from 100% recycled plastic waste. He discussed the value of the circular economy not only for healthy oceans, but also for green cities.