22-26 August 2023 | Vancouver, Canada
Seventh GEF Assembly
Environmental leaders from 185 countries gathered in Vancouver, Canada for the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility from August 22-26 to discuss environmental solutions under the overarching theme of "Healthy Planet, Healthy People."
Date & Location
August 22-26, 2023
Vancouver, Canada
About the Seventh GEF Assembly
Apoorva Arya (CEO) and Arpit Bhutani (COO) from the Circular Innovation Lab participated in the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) from August 22-26 in Vancouver, Canada, which gathered environmental leaders from 185 countries. Building on recent diplomatic breakthroughs on biodiversity loss, toxic chemicals, and the high seas, the GEF Assembly was a critical stocktaking for 2030 goals to end pollution and nature loss, combat climate change, and propel inclusive, locally-led conservation. It included the launch of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, a new source of funding for protecting endangered species and their ecosystems globally.
Ministers, government officials, business leaders, prominent environmentalists, leaders of GEF agencies and of the main environmental conventions, as well as youth, civil society representatives and Indigenous Peoples had the opportunity to discuss solutions under the overarching theme of "Healthy Planet, Healthy People."
Panel Session
Pollution Free, Nature Positive, Net Zero Fashion
On August 22, Apoorva Arya (CEO) moderated a Panel Session titled 'Pollution Free, Nature Positive, Net Zero Fashion'. The session was organised by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Conservation International (CI) and the Fashion Pact (TFP), and sought to highlight the need for accelerated action on fashion supply chains, examining the role of global public institutions and funding in working with the private sector to improve design, sourcing, production and consumption in the industry. The session had seasoned panellists from different fields and sectors who engaged in a robust discussion on how to bridge the gap between production and consumption through transparency and traceability and transform the fashion sector with nature. The discussion generated new ideas and strategies to establish pollution-free, nature-positive and net-zero supply chains.
High-Level Round Table
Catalysing a Zero-Waste, Circular Economic System: A Roundtable Discussion with Disruptive Entrepreneurs, Youth, Government and Financiers
On August 24, Apoorva Arya (CEO) moderated and Arpit Bhutani (COO) spoke at this roundtable which brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss how to catalyse a zero-waste circular economic system. The interactive discussion between entrepreneurs, the private sector, government, and youth focused on identifying challenges and opportunities, as well as potential solutions, for creating a more sustainable and circular economy. To ground the discussion, the session drew examples of circular solutions from fashion, construction, plastics, e-waste, and food systems. The ideas generated during the roundtable can be used to inform policy and business decisions related to sustainability and circular economy.
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