Asian Circular Cities Declaration Kicks Off to Accelerate Circular Urban Development Across Asia
The Asian Circular Cities Declaration (ACCD)—a new regional initiative to accelerate the transition toward circular cities across Asia—has been officially kicked off.
The Declaration was kicked off during the Asia Smart City Conference 2025 (ASCC 2025), held November 25–26 at Pacifico Yokohama North, where 59 cities and 10 organizations gathered under the theme “Toward an Environmentally Friendly Circular Society,” a wide range of stakeholders—including cities, government agencies, and international organizations—participated in case study presentations and policy discussions focused on sustainable and circular urban development.
Asian City Leaders Call for a Regional Circular Cities Declaration
During the opening session on November 25, Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka of Yokohama City highlighted the importance of resource circulation and waste management, and outlined the key drivers supporting Yokohama’s transition toward a circular city.
Mayor Yamanaka also introduced the European Circular Cities Declaration, launched in 2020 with leadership from ICLEI Europe, and emphasized the need for a similar framework in the Asian region. The European Circular Cities Declaration currently includes approximately 90 cities from 22 countries, which commit to setting goals for circular city transitions while sharing challenges and best practices.
Building on this experience, leaders from City of Yokohama, along with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (Thailand), the Centre for Liveable Cities (Singapore), Da Nang City (Viet Nam), and Makassar City (Indonesia) jointly issued a public call during the opening session for the establishment of an Asian Circular Cities Declaration, with Yokohama serving as the initiating city.
The call received strong support from representatives of cities and international organizations, including the City of Amsterdam and the Asian Development Bank, signaling growing regional and global momentum for circular city action in Asia.
ICLEI Japan Announces the Kick-off of the Asian Circular Cities Declaration (ACCD)
In response to the call, Dr. Kazuhiko Takemoto, Chair of ICLEI Japan, joined the closing session on November 26 online and officially announced the kick-off of the Asian Circular Cities Declaration (ACCD). At the same session, the City of Yokohama declared its commitment as the first signatory city of the ACCD.
The closing session featured remarks from Mayor Piia Elo of Turku, Vice President of ICLEI Europe, representatives of Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, and United Nations agencies. Speakers expressed strong support for the ACCD and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting its future development and implementation.
A subsequent panel discussion, moderated by Togo Uchida, Executive Director of ICLEI Japan, featured speakers from the World Economic Forum, Circle Economy, CITYNET (the Asia–Pacific network of local governments), and United Nations agencies. Panelists shared expectations for the ACCD and reaffirmed their support for the initiative.
From Commitment to Action: Sessions for Cities and the Private Sector
During ASCC 2025, ICLEI Japan also hosted dedicated sessions for local governments, providing an overview of the ACCD’s objectives, the benefits of participation, and the reporting framework. Participants shared updates on their current initiatives and engaged in active discussions, particularly on reporting approaches and implementation challenges.
In parallel, private-sector sessions focused on the overview of the ACCD and explored opportunities for collaboration between companies and local governments. Participating companies exchanged views on future developments, the benefits of corporate engagement, ways to share best practices, and potential incentives for both municipalities and businesses—demonstrating strong interest from all stakeholders.
Advancing Circular Cities through Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
To accelerate the transition toward circular cities in Asia, close collaboration among local governments, businesses, residents, and international partners is essential. By leveraging the ACCD as a shared framework, stakeholders can collaborate to scale innovative solutions and advance circular urban development across the region.
Through the ACCD, ICLEI Japan is committed to supporting cities across Asia in advancing circular city transitions that reflect their diverse local contexts and priorities.
👉 For more information on signing the ACCD, please visit this page.
📌 An ACCD information session is scheduled for mid-January. Further details will be announced shortly.
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