The Legacy of COP 31: Circularity Monitoring Platform to track and accelerate progress towards 15% circularity by 2035.

As part of its Action Agenda, the COP31 Presidency proposed raising the use of circular materials in the manufacturing and production sectors to 15% by 2035. This ambition provides a clear global destination. It creates an opportunity to bring governments, industry and finance behind a shared and measurable goal.

Circularity must be at the heart of the climate action agenda: of all emissions, 45% are linked to how we make and use products and food. In recognition of this, circularity is increasingly embedded in national policies and climate plans, including NDCs. However, the knowledge, coordination and systems needed for implementation remain fragmented. There is currently no consistent global benchmarking mechanism or data platform informing a sustained high-level dialogue on global circularity progress and action.

COP31 provides an opportunity to change this, and to leave a lasting legacy beyond setting the target itself. We propose launching the foundations of a Global Circularity Monitoring Platform at COP 31 to track and accelerate progress towards 15% circularity by 2035.

The Platform will provide open-access global, national and sector-level data that connects circularity to emissions, and wider environmental, economic and social impacts. It will establish comparable baselines and future projections, providing localised evidence on how circular interventions can reduce emissions and create value. This common evidence base can support informed dialogues between governments and industry to prioritise and translate circular opportunities into investable projects that reduce emissions.

We call on the COP31 Presidency and global leaders to establish the monitoring infrastructure necessary for the proposed circular material use target. We invite other stakeholders to join the call and contribute their knowledge, networks and funds to making a 15% circular global economy a reality. Let’s accelerate the circular transition together.