We work with governments and partners to improve management of chemicals and waste and achieve the goals of circular economy, to implement a whole-of-society approach to address plastic pollution along its entire value chain, and to develop integrated solutions to scale up the innovation and impact on sustainable cooling.

Worldwide, more than two billion people lack access to waste collection which, together with ever increasing amount of waste, is a longstanding public concern due to its impact on human health, the environment and socio-economic development. The Zero Waste initiative is emerging in view of the need to shift to a circular economy. UNDP aims to support the transition towards zero waste through focusing on municipalities to adopt integrated planning and programming for waste management.

Tackling plastic pollution is key to protecting human and planetary health and safeguarding sustainable development. UNDP works with countries and communities around the globe to eliminate plastic pollution along the entire value chain and radically transform the way we produce, consume and dispose of plastics.

Cooling is essential to human health, food security and economic productivity. UNDP’s response to the challenges and opportunities in the cooling sector focuses on supporting the transition to climate-friendly refrigerants and formulation of national cooling action plans and programmes and promoting integrated energy solutions, coupled with renewable energy in buildings and energy intensive facilities, district cooling, and sustainable cold chain solutions.

Circular Economy is a systems solution framework that calls for a sustainable paradigm shift from a “take make waste” linear system to a circular system. Circular Economy can be achieved through long lasting design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing, and recycling. Inclusive Circular and Green/Blue economy approaches cover many potential policy and programming entry points for UNDP and partners.