Symposium overview
The upcoming Frontiers symposium focusing on Community-led circular solutions for inclusive climate action, will take place from 30 September to 2 October 2026 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in partnership with WIEGO, as a chair of the Circular Economy Thematic Chamber of Brazil’s National Climate Change Forum.
The event will bring together leading researchers, innovators and practitioners to explore how more inclusive and equitable circular economy transitions can be achieved, focusing on participation in decision-making, governance, and addressing inequalities across systems such as waste, mining, and infrastructure. It will highlight the role of Indigenous peoples, local communities, workers in the informal economy, and other community-led circular ecosystems in driving innovation and place-based solutions, as well as the enabling conditions needed to scale these efforts, including finance, governance frameworks, and resilient infrastructure that support long-term social, economic, and environmental resilience.
The event will offer a unique opportunity for delegates from different disciplines to connect and network with experts from around the world, and to explore cross-cutting issues through three different sub-themes:
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Participation, decision-making, and climate governance in circular systems
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Community-led circular ecosystems and innovation
- Enabling conditions, finance, and resilient productive systems for circular economy
Please note that the theme is currently in development with a panel of experts and will be refined closer to the event. If you have any questions please get in touch.
Symposium details
- Event format: this is a fully in-person event with no virtual or hybrid option, structured around three cross-disciplinary, challenge-led sessions. Please familiarise yourself with the structure by reading some of our previous event reports
- Arrival: the evening of 29 September for a welcome dinner and networking to kick off the event.
- Who attends: Participants are from all disciplines (i.e. not just for engineers) and sectors, and from all around the world.
- Event cost: There is no cost to participants for attending the event. We welcome a diverse group of participants and offer to cover your travel, accommodation and subsistence costs during the event. We actively encourage candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. Please note: we do not cover usual salary costs.
How to apply?
Complete your expression of interest by 17 August 2026.
Post-event funding
Seed funding grants worth £20,000 over one year are awarded to successful collaborations developed via the symposium. See here previous grant awardees to familiarise yourself with the types of projects.