From waste to resources: Colón, Cuba building circularity and resilience
Rather than treating waste management in isolation, Colón is exploring how resource recovery, local planning, community participation, and climate action can all be connected.
Five cities rewriting the rules on climate action through plastics circularity
From reducing emissions to boosting climate adaptation, cities around the world are showing how Rethink, Regenerate, Reduce, Reuse and Recover strategies are turning action on plastics into a powerful lever for climate action.
On the road to COP31, cities lead on zero waste and climate action at the Zero Waste Forum
At the Zero Waste Forum 2026 (5-7 June, Istanbul, Türkiye), cities made the case that transforming waste into a resource is emerging as one of the most practical pathways for delivering climate action, strengthening resilience, and advancing sustainable urban development.
Zero food waste: Here’s how four cities are getting there
This year’s Zero Waste Day, our focus is on food – an area where the potential for impact is both urgent and transformative. Across four cities, innovative approaches are showing how the loop between farm and fork can be closed through actionable policies and community engagement.
African enterprises bet on circularity to reshape food systems
Across Africa, food entrepreneurs across the coffee, fisheries, poultry, and dairy sectors are reshaping how food is produced, packaged, reused, and valued.
ReUse this: Medellín’s steps to scale returnable packaging
From coffee cups to soda bottles, over 1,000 tonnes of waste are generated every day in Medellín, Colombia. In response, the city has been focusing on reusable systems.
From policy to factory floor: What cities can learn from the EU SWITCH-Asia Textile project in China
From recycling hubs to traceability and green finance, ICLEI’s SWITCH-Asia project is helping Chinese small and medium size enterprises go circular. Read about six field-tested levers cities can apply – each with a clear 90-day checklist to drive real impact.
Circular Development Equitable Development ICLEI organization ICLEI's Five Pathways Japan Office Nature-based Development Resilient Development Zero emission Development
ICLEI Members in Japan are scaling action through ICLEI’s five pathways
In fiscal year 2024, ICLEI Members in Japan engaged in various activities connected to ICLEI’s five pathways toward sustainable urban…
A global Plastics Treaty stalls, but cities can push ahead
As global Plastics Treaty negotiations failed to reach consensus, cities and regions cannot wait. Read four takeaways to guide local action against the plastic waste piling up daily in cities.
Toward a world free of plastic pollution?
As countries race to finalize a global plastics treaty by the end of 2025, a critical round of negotiations is underway in Geneva, Switzerland. From production limits to toxic chemical bans, what’s on the table and why must cities have a seat at it?
Beyond the bin: What cities can do to make reuse work
What if your coffee cup or takeout container didn’t end up in the trash, but went back into circulation, reducing waste, cutting emissions, and sparking local innovation and green jobs? Explore lessons from the Circular City Labs project.
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What does an ecological civilization look like? China’s Guiyang City is showing the way
With lush forests, clean air, and a fast-growing green economy, Guiyang is proving that cities can thrive without costing the Earth. On 5–6 July, urban leaders will gather here for the Eco Forum Global Annual Conference to promote harmony between humans and nature, a journey that Guiyang has proudly led for years