Dr. Janez Potočnik Introductory Speaker at the World Circular Economy Forum in Helsinki

Helsinki, 5th June

Today the World Circular Economy Forum 2017 opens doors in Helsinki. Honours of the introductory speech went to Janez Potočnik, the renowned Slovenian expert on the circular economy and Co-Chair of the UN Resource Panel (UNEP). Potočnik was  EC Commissioner for Environment (2010-2014) and is today Partner of SystemiQ and Chair of the Advisory Board of Circular Change.

In his opening speech Potočnik called for more decisive leadership that has to put the transition towards the circular economy in action at the systemic level. In front of over 1500 attendees from around the globe he admitted he would not have believed three years ago, when as the EC Commissioner he was promoting the first package of measures for the support to the circular transition to see the process advance so much and he thanked Finland for organising the high-level event.

A two-day gathering in Helsinki is organised by the Finnish innovation fund SITRA. The Forum takes place in days when Finland celebrates its 100th anniversary and is held in Finlandia Hall, the country’s most renowned congress centre, designed by the architect Alvar Aalto, where in 1975 Helsinki host the historic meeting of the Organisation for cooperation and security in Europe (OCSE).

Please see more on the Forum here.