Why Cities Are So Important to the Circular Economy
According to global consulting firm Accenture, the Circular Economy could generate $4.5 trillion of additional economic output by 2030, and the United Nations projects that by 2050, two thirds of us will live in cities.
What steps do cities need to take to unlock the potential of the Circular Economy?
European cities like Helsinki and Amsterdam are early adopters of the Circular Economy. With a severely limited land base and resource constraints, many European cities have recognized the transition to a Circular Economy as a way to enhance prosperity, while also meeting pressing environmental and livability targets.
European Early Adopters
#ZWC19 Day 1 features a presentation from Anni Sinnemäki, Deputy Mayor of Helsinki, Finland. She’s the head of Helsinki’s Urban Environment Division and an enthusiastic board member of Helsinki Metropolitan Smart & Clean Foundation, working to make ‘zero plastic waste’ reality in the Finnish capital region.
Sinnemäki will be joined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Nolwenn Foray, who focuses on engaging policymakers and international institutions in the New Plastics Economy, a three-year initiative that aims to rethink and redesign the global plastics system.
The Circular Cities Panel
Plus, with municipal speakers including Meaghan Davis, Acting Manager, Circular Economy and Innovation Unit from the City of Toronto and Barbara Swartzentruber, Executive Director, Strategy, Innovation & Intergovernmental Relations from the City of Guelph, you’ll hear how cities in Canada and Europe are getting things done on the ground.
The Circular Cities Panel will also feature:
Meaghan Kahnert, Senior Consultant, Energy & Sustainability, Arup Canada
​Kahnert is a Licensed Professional Engineer and a LEED Accredited Professional with a specialization in Building Design and Construction. She brings deep expertise in scalable solutions for cities, urban planning and buildings projects in pursuit of impactful high-performance design, climate action planning, resilience and health and wellness strategies.
Tamara Streefland, Circular Cities Program Lead, Metabolic
Amsterdam-based Metabolic works with cities and regions to drive systemic change. Streefland has worked on a wide range of urban resilience projects, focused on water ecology, the freight sector, waste systems, and renewable energy in cities including Amsterdam and New York City.
Christina Seidel, Co-Chair, National Zero Waste Council Circular Economy Working Group, and Executive Director of the Recycling Council of Alberta
Seidel holds a PhD in Engineering Management, a Masters degree in Environmental Design and a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering. She operates Sonnevera International Corp., a waste reduction consulting firm, and is the Executive Director of the Recycling Council of Alberta. Christina is also working to establish a foundational group of Alberta municipalities of various sizes working together to develop a Circular Cities Roadmap.
Moderated by: Brock Carlton, CEO, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
#ZWC19 is Your Guide to the Circular Economy
The role of cities ranges from providing supportive policies, services and physical spaces, to serving as an active partner in collaboration with the private sector. Thanks to their direct connections with businesses and residents, as well as their purchasing power and legal tools, cities can effectively drive systemic change.
Whether you’re totally new to the concept or an industry veteran, the Zero Waste Conference, in collaboration with the National Zero Waste Council, strikes a balance between theory and action. The conference is your guide to the people, ideas and actions that are having the biggest impact.
2019 Zero Waste Conference:
Mobilizing for Success in the Circular Economy
October 30 – 31, 2019
Vancouver Convention Centre (999 Canada Place)
Keynotes Speakers:
Tom Szaky
Arthur Huang
Harald Friedl
Valerie Craig
