On 16 November 2024, Acting Secretary General, Ms. Atsuko Hirose, spoke as a panelist in the Ministerial Meeting on Circular Economy ‘Empowering interregional partnerships for circular economy transition: towards a climate resilient and sustainable future via resource-efficiency.’

The event, co-organised by COP29 Presidency of Azerbaijan, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), was opened by remarks by the UNEP Executive Director, H.E. Ms. Inger Andersen, and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), H.E. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.  The speakers included the Secretary General of ECO, H.E. Dr. Asad M. Khan and high-level officials from the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Ms. Hirose discussed the important nexus of energy transition and circular economy, focusing on the policy measures to build an energy sector that is both sustainable and aligned with circular economy principles.