Symposium conclusions

The Circular Gaia Symposium was successfully concluded, marking the culmination of an engaging and impactful gathering dedicated to advancing circularity and sustainability on a global scale. The Symposium was held on 2 October at the historic monument of Zappeion, where the Act of accession of Greece to the then European Communities was signed, and on 3 October at the historic building of the European Public Law Organization, in Plaka, next to the Roman Agora.

More than 350 participants have attended in person and 3000 online, as the Symposium was live streamed, from 40 countries of four continents. 

The Symposium commenced with a warm welcome from George Kremlis, Founder and President of the Circular Gaia Symposium, Ambassador of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) to Bulgaria and Director of the Circular Economy and Climate Institute of the EPLO andProfessor Spyros Flogaitis, Director of the EPLO and President of its Board of Directors, setting an inspiring tone for the two-day event. The opening session featured high-level contributions from both national and international leaders, reflecting the global importance of advancing circular economy initiatives. Highlights included a video address from HE Mr. Rumen Radev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria, and speeches by Messrs. Stavros N. Papastavrou, Minister of Environment & Energy of Greece, Harry Theoharis, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. Further perspectives were provided through video messages by Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism and Mrs. Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, as well as in-person contributions from Dr. Alexandra-Sophia Togia, CEO of the Hellenic Recycling Agency, Ms. Angeliki Varela, President of the Greek National Tourism Organization and Mr. Konstantinos Zervas, Head of the Delegation of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) to the Council of European Municipalities and Regions and former Mayor of Thessaloniki. Together, these distinguished speakers emphasized the critical role of policy, innovation and cross-sector collaboration in driving circularity and sustainability at national, regional and global levels.

In addition to the high-level opening session, six panels were held on the first day, while nine panels took place on the second day, covering in a holistic manner the full range of circular economy facets: circular cities, energy transition, green growth, circular tourism, circular diplomacy, ESG, digital innovation & AI, the protection of cultural heritage from climate change and many more.

During the first day, George Kremlis conducted a special interview with Dr. Harris A. Eyre, Executive Director of the Brain Capital Alliance and Professor at Rice University

and The University of Texas Medical Branch, on the concept of the brain economy. From this discussion, the following key points emerged: 

• The brain economy movement is emerging as a vital lever to navigate today’s flux in global economics, science and sustainable development. 
• Develop a future where cities, companies, and governments measure not just carbon, waste, and GDP — but also brain capital indices as part of circularity and resilience metrics.
• The circular economy is about closing loops of materials and resources — the brain economy adds the loop of human potential.

Furthermore, Professor Emeritus Antonia Moropoulou, National Technical University of Athens and Vice President of the Technical Chamber of Greece, presented the “Athens Declaration on Cultural based Climate Actions”, prepared at the 4th TMM-CH International Conference, which was approved as well by the Circular Gaia Symposium. She concluded “Despite insufficient emphasis on the key role of culture in much official climate policy and funding, artistic and heritage voices are on the forefront of work for triple transformation (green, digital, and social), pursuit of 1.5 degree pathways, and systems change. A persistent lack of formal policy recognition, however, undermines the vital contribution of culture and ultimately the effectiveness of global climate action. A “Joint Work” is a recognized process by which climate policy makers assembled at the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change can request the UNFCCC Secretariat and its subsidiary bodies to jointly address a critical, gap issue – in this case the intersections of culture and climate action. This decision would reflect a commitment from the UNFCCC to begin a consultative process to understand the full contribution of culture – including cultural heritage, arts and the creative sectors – to climate action. Culture has unparalleled capacity to enable change. This process would pave the way to the adoption at a subsequent COP of a landmark work programme putting culture and heritage at the heart of climate policy, planning and action”. George Kremlis highlighted the “Evlogon” emblematic Project conducted by NTUA with scientific responsible Prof. Moropoulou, which is on “Model Interdisciplinary Development and Transfer of Know-how and Cooperation in the Restoration of Emblematic Monuments and Highlighting of Values of Christianity in Dialogue with Society” and Prof. Moropoulou invited the participants to join the Thessaloniki event at the Concert Hall the 26th October 2026, ten years after the opening of the Tomb of Christ at the Holy Aedicule in the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. 

The first day of the symposium could not have drawn to a more fitting and distinguished close than with the Circular Gaia Awards ceremony. The awards were presented by Panagiotis Theodorikakos, Minister of Development of the Hellenic Republic, Professor Spyros Flogaitis and George Kremlis. The awards recognized individuals, companies and organizations for their outstanding contributions to circular economy practices, environmental protection, innovation, sustainable production, green transition and circular entrepreneurship.

In a memorable finale, the talented young pianist Charalampos Devetzis emerged as the winner of the soundtrack contest, in which 1.129 people have voted. His composition will now serve as the official music theme of the Symposium.

Over the course of the symposium, participants shared insights, forged new collaborations, and identified actionable pathways toward a regenerative and equitable future. The outcomes and discussions from this symposium will continue to inform ongoing initiatives and collective efforts aimed at building a resilient, circular and sustainable planet.

In summary the key conclusions and recommendations are the following:

• Policy Alignment and Global Cooperation: There is a pressing need to better align national, EU, and international policy frameworks to support the advancement of circular economy initiatives. Strengthened multilateral cooperation and coherent regulatory approaches are essential to effectively address shared global challenges and accelerate the transition to carbon neutrality. These critical issues were at the heart of a panel discussion moderated by George Kremlis, with insightful contributions from Uroš Vajgl, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy of the Republic of Slovenia; Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, Director at the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission; Konstantinos Aravosis, Professor at NTUA, Vice President and Waste Management BoD Chairman at the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water (RAAEY); Konstantinos Zervas, Head of the Delegation of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) to the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and former Mayor of Thessaloniki; and Ermis Panagiotopoulos, Head of Sustainability Advocacy EMEA at Indorama Ventures PCL. Throughout the discussion, speakers emphasized the shared responsibility of governments, EU institutions, local authorities, and the private sector to foster coordinated action. They underlined the importance of creating a robust and coherent policy environment that supports innovation, resource efficiency, and green growth, paving the way for a more circular and resilient global economy. Faced with high energy costs and fierce global competition, European industries need urgent support. The Clean Industrial Deal launched on 26 February 2025 outlines concrete
  actions to turn decarbonisation into a driver of growth for European industries. This includes lowering energy prices, creating quality jobs and the right conditions for companies to thrive. Another element of the Deal is circularity which aims to reduce waste and extend the life of materials by promoting recycling, reuse, and sustainable production. Maximising EU’s limited resources and reducing overdependencies on third-country suppliers for raw materials is crucial for a competitive and resilient market. The importance of critical raw materials was emphasized in this context together with industrial symbiosis.

• Circular economy and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Implementing and strengthening economic instruments and in particular EPR schemes can play a decisive role in reducing waste and fostering sustainable product design. During the discussion, stakeholders highlighted the need for clear and consistent regulatory frameworks, as well as effective incentive mechanisms that enhance producer accountability and drive the transition towards more sustainable production and consumption patterns. The panel brought together Dionissis Boudouvas, Managing Director of COMBATT S.A.; Eleni Providi, VP Legal & Public Affairs and Head of Corporate Communication, Quality and Sustainability at AΒ Vassilopoulos; Efthymia Tritopoulou, General Manager of FILTRA S.A.; and Marios Skarvelakis, General Manager of CYCLOS S.A. The session was moderated by George Konstantinopoulos, Lawyer at the Supreme Court, Head of the Scientific Committee at ECOCITY, and Member of EEB Law.

• Green Financing and ESG Integration: Financial institutions play a crucial role in supporting circular economy projects. The integration of circular Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) criteria into investment strategies can catalyze sustainable growth, foster innovation, and attract private and public capital towards environmentally responsible initiatives. These themes were explored in a panel discussion featuring Ivan Ivanov, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works of the Republic of Bulgaria; Ioannis Tsakiris, Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB); Theodora Antonakaki, Director of the Climate Change and Sustainability Centre (CCSC) at the Bank of Greece; Georgios Antoniadis, Director of Sustainable and Development Banking at Piraeus; Marios A. Klitou, CEO of Baker Tilly South East Europe; and Constantine Tsolakidis, Senior Underwriter at Interamerican Hellenic Insurance Company S.A. The session was moderated by Rym Ayadi, Founder and President of the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA). Speakers emphasized that aligning financial flows with sustainability goals is not only a strategic imperative but also a unique opportunity to shape resilient economic models. By including ESG principles in their decisions, financial institutions can speed up green projects, create new funding opportunities and support the circular economy. The EU Taxonomy regulation is now at the basis of green financing and is followed by the most important IFIs. Circular economy and the “do no significant harm” are among its key elements. In this framework, “climate proofing” is a prerequisite for green financing.

• Circular Diplomacy: Strengthening international partnerships through circular diplomacy can amplify global efforts on sustainability. Diplomatic channels should be strategically leveraged to promote knowledge exchange, mobilize resources, and disseminate best practices, thereby advancing collective progress towards circularity. This vision was at the core of a high-level discussion featuring Matthew James Lodge, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Hellenic Republic; Omar Youssef, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Hellenic Republic; Laurence Auer, Ambassador of the French Republic to the Hellenic Republic; Stavros Avgoustides, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Hellenic Republic; and Arif Mammadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Hellenic Republic. The panel was moderated by George Kremlis. Speakers underlined the importance of diplomacy as a powerful enabler of global cooperation. By fostering dialogue, building alliances, and sharing expertise, countries can accelerate the transition to a circular economy on a truly international scale. The promotion of multilateralism versus unilateralism was highlighted in this context and emphasis was given to collectively addressing the key challenges the broader region is facing as a result of the climate crisis, the litter pollution and the microplastics pollution of the food chains and the marine environment.

• Waste and Water Management: Effective management of waste and water resources is vital for achieving circularity. Strategic investments in infrastructure, innovative technologies and sustainable practices that promote recycling, resource recovery, and efficient water use can generate substantial environmental and economic benefits.These critical issues were discussed by Ioannis N. Tzortzis, BoD Member at the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste & Water (RAEEY); Maria Loizidou, Professor at the School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens; Ilias Dimitriadis, President and CEO of the Collective System for Alternative Waste Management of Excavation, Construction, and Demolition Waste (ANAKEM S.A.); and Charalambos Papachristos, Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at CHITOS S.A. The panel was moderated by Yiannis Liaros, Public & Social Affairs Director of theaddcases. Speakers emphasized the need for integrated approaches that link technological innovation with policy support and stakeholder engagement. Such strategies can help optimize resource use, protect ecosystems and create sustainable value across sectors.

• Sustainable Infrastructure: Developing sustainable infrastructure is essential for building resilient economies and advancing the circular transition. By integrating environmental considerations into the planning, construction and operation of infrastructure, countries can reduce emissions, optimize resource use and ensure long-term economic and social benefits. Sustainable infrastructure is not only an environmental priority but also a strategic investment in economic competitiveness and innovation. Strategic investments in green and smart infrastructure can also enhance connectivity, strengthen supply chains and support climate resilience. Emphasis was given to the Connecting Europe Facility and the need to develop jointly “green PCIs or PMIs” under the TEN-T to boost interconnections. These priorities were highlighted in a panel discussion featuring Christos Dimas, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of the Hellenic Republic; Grozdan Karadjov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria; and Georgia Lykou, Head of the Environmental Protection Regulation and Oversight Section at the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA). The discussion was moderated by George Kremlis.

• Cultural Heritage Protection: Preserving cultural heritage sites is integral to maintaining identity and history. Integrating climate action strategies with cultural heritage conservation efforts can ensure the resilience of these sites against climate change impacts. Moreover, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, combining expertise in heritage conservation, climate science and policy-making to safeguard cultural sites, while promoting sustainable development was highlighted by the panel discussions consisted of H.R.H. Princess Dana Firas of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, President of ICOMOS!-Jordan; SneškaQuaedvlieg-Mihailovic, Secretary-General of Europa Nostra; Antonio Jesús Antequera Delgado from the General Subdirectorate of Management and Coordination of Cultural Assets, Ministry of Culture and Sports, Spain; and Christiana Pirasmaki, Vice President of the Board of ECOCITY. The discussion was moderated by Professor Tonia Moropoulou, National Technical University of Athens, and Vice President of the Technical Chamber of Greece.

• Alternative Fuels: The use of alternative fuels is key to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and driving the transition to a sustainable, circular energy system, while cleaner energy sources in transport and industry can meet climate targets and foster innovation.  Both SAFs and alternative maritime fuels – including ammonia- were presented and discussed, and the potential of producing them in Greece was
  highlighted. The importance of accelerating research, development and deployment of alternative fuels to unlock technological opportunities and strengthen sustainable economic growth was stressed out in this panel moderated by Stelios Bikos, Management Consultant, consisted of George Govatzidakis, Sustainability Manager at AEGEAN Airlines; Georgios Mitkidis, Head of Alternative and Renewable Fuels at the Motor Oil Group, Professor Antonis Kokossis, National Technical University of Athens; Nikolaos Michas Key Account Manager for Tanker Segment in RINA; Dr. Kostas Rokkos, Chairman and CEO of TST International S.A.; and Dimitris Theodossiou, Co-founder and Managing Director of Danaos Management Consultants S.A.

• Circular Economy at the Crossroads of Cities, Islands & Tourism: Promoting a circular economy in cities, islands and the tourism sector is key to achieving sustainable development, resource efficiency and climate resilience. The panel opened with video messages from Dr. Kostas Bakoyannis, Chair of the Environment, Climate Change and Energy Commission at the European Committee of the Regions and former Mayor of Athens and George Chatzimarkos, Regional Governor of the South Aegean, highlighting the strategic approaches and unique challenges regions, islands and cities are facing in adopting circular practices. Among many themes, the speakers showcased innovative solutions for integrating circularity into tourism, energy and urban planning and explored policy frameworks, technological innovations and stakeholder engagement necessary to scale circular initiatives. The panel was moderated by George Kremlis and consisted of Gianni Chianetta, Founder and Chair of the Greening the Islands Foundation; Professor Antonis Peppas, National Technical University of Athens; Professor Ioannis Katsogiannis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; Dimitris Kollias, Strategic Advisor for the Green Transition, and EU Climate Pact Ambassador; Veselin Todorov, CEO of VVT Engineering LTD; and Dr. Sofia-Natalia Boemi, Senior Energy Efficiency and Energy Policies Expert at the Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP). Speakers also emphasized that cross-sector collaboration among local authorities, academia, industry and civil society is essential to transform cities and islands into resilient, resource-efficient ecosystems that can lead by example in sustainable tourism and circular development, while promoting RES and the net “prosumer” concept.

• Energy transition & carbon neutrality: Achieving carbon neutrality and accelerating the energy transition are critical for meeting climate targets and building sustainable, resilient energy systems. The panel explored strategies to decarbonize power generation, industry, and transport, while fostering innovation and investment in clean energy technologies. Panelists included Sanja Bozinovska, Minister in the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of the Republic of North Macedonia; Tsvetelina Penkova, Member of the European Parliament, S&D Group; Lukasz Kolinski, Director for Green Transition and Energy System Integration in DG ENER; Monika Stanisheva, Founder of the Green Transition Forum and Chair of the Board of dir.bg; and Nikolaos Rigas, Head of Carbon Storage at EnEarth & Energean, as well as, a pre-recorded intervention from Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of the European Hydrogen Association “Hydrogen Europe”. The session was moderated by Sergei Stanishev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria (2005–2009), President of PES (2011–2022), and Member of the European Parliament (2014–2024). Speakers emphasized that collaboration between governments, industry and EU institutions is essential to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and deploy carbon capture and storage solutions, paving the way for a sustainable and climate-resilient Europe.

• Role of Women in Circular Economy: Women play a vital role in promoting circularity and advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs), both through leadership in policymaking and in driving change within the private sector. Empowering women and promoting gender equality in circular economy initiatives can lead to more inclusive and effective solutions. Policies should support women’s participation in leadership roles and decision-making processes. The first panel, Role of Women in Promoting Circularity and SDGs, co-organized by UNEP/MAP, featured Maša Kociper, State Secretary in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia; Eng. Samah Saleh, General Director of Environmental Development, Head of the Sustainable Development and Gender Equality Units at the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs, Arab Republic of Egypt; Patricia Busolini, Socio-Economic and Sustainable Development Officer at UNEP/MAP – Barcelona Convention; and Prof. Rym Ayadi, Founder and President of the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA). The session was moderated by Dr. Senem Elcin Berber, Gender Specialist at UNEP/MAP Med Programme Coordination Unit.

The second panel, The Power of She: Circular Leadership in Action, showcased women leading by example in business and entrepreneurship. Panelists included Alexia Machera, Sustainability and Corporate Communication Manager at AB Vassilopoulos; Athanasia Ioannidou, Director of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs (SEGE); and Evelina Tsileva, President of More Women in Power. The session was moderated by Irene Christodoulou, Editor-in-Chief at Science Media PC and Executive Director at RAWMATHUB.GR. Speakers across both panels emphasized the transformative impact of women’s leadership in circular economy initiatives, highlighting how gender-inclusive strategies drive innovation, policy advancement and sustainable growth across sectors.

• COP30 – Brazil Leading the Way in Circular Economy and Climate Action. As the world looks ahead to COP30, the panel highlighted Brazil’s leading role in advancing circular economy and climate action. In a video message, Honorable Chief Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin, President of the Global Judicial Institute on the Environment, emphasized the importance of environmental justice. Pedro Escosteguy Cardoso, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of Brazil to the Hellenic Republic, outlined Brazil’s vision for a climate-resilient and circular future. Additional video messages from Jan Dusik, Deputy Director- General, of Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission and Carlo Buontempo, Director of Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) at ECMWF, stressed the value of international cooperation and data-driven climate strategies. The session was moderated by George Kremlis, who has emphasised the concept of mutirão which serves as the moto of COP30. The word “mutirão” comes from the Tupi-Guarani language family (spoken by many Indigenous peoples of Brazil). Its key components are: i) Solidarity and Cooperation, ii) Voluntary Effort and Reciprocity, ii) Celebration and Social Interaction. It reflects the importance of ancestral intelligence and promotes as such the mainstreaming of culture in climate action which we expect COP30 to develop further.
• Circular Blue economy: This panel was in memoriam of the Ambassador Sotirios Varouxakis, a prominent Greek diplomat who in his brilliant career has also served as the first Senior Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) when it was established. Charlina Vitcheva, Director General of DGMARE, European Commission referred to the EC’s blue economy initiatives and in particular the European Ocean Pact. Grammenos Mastrojeni, Senior Deputy Secretary General of UfM, presented the environmental challenges of the Mediterranean as a hot spot, while Tatjana Hema, Coordinator of the UN Environment Programme/ Mediterranean Action Plan-Barcelona Convention Secretariat, has emphasised the importance of MAP and of the upcoming COP 24 in Cairo. Natalie Hilmi, Section Head of Environmental Economics chez Centre Scientifique de Monaco, has presented the pioneering initiatives that her institution is developing. The panel was moderated by George Kremlis.
• Digital Innovation and AI: Leveraging digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence can accelerate the transition to a circular economy by optimizing resource use and enhancing decision-making processes. This panel moderated by George Behrakis, Co-Founder of the AXIOS Project and Climate Solutions Fund, consisted of Vassilis Koutsoumpas, Digital Policy & AI Adviser in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic; Spyros Mazarakis, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Pleiades IoT Innovation Cluster; and Kyriakos Tsitouridis, Co-founder of Wastecloud, ThessCompost, and Mellon Labs, the role of government-led initiatives in fostering digital innovation for sustainability was highlighted as well as the fact that combining digital technologies with circular economy principles enables smarter, data-driven solutions, accelerates sustainability outcomes and opens new opportunities for innovation and collaboration across sectors.

A key takeaway of the Symposium was that in the three pillars and priorities of the EU, also reflected in the SDGs — green growth, blue economy, and digital economy — the circular economy stands as the overarching priority, embracing them and being mainstreamed across all three. A central message was the need to mainstream the circular economy into all governance levels and policy areas, both vertically and horizontally, in order to also achieve circular entrepreneurship. All dimensions of the circular economy were highlighted, as well as their interaction: the social circular economy, in its bottom-up process, with emphasis on energy communities and social cooperatives; the brain economy; and the interaction with AI.

The Circular Gaia Symposium has substantiated the new narrative building on the reduction of the environmental, energy and climate footprint of all anthropogenic activities and the new concept of circular citizen, circular household, circular city, circular regions and states, to be promoted worldwide and the role of the youth in further promoting it.

The Symposium drew to a close with a strong sense of purpose and shared commitment to advancing the circular economy in the broader region and the seas surrounding it. 

We sincerely thank all the speakers, moderators, and participants for their valuable insights and active engagement, which made this gathering truly impactful. Their contributions strengthened collaboration across international institutions, governments, academia, industry, and civil society, setting the stage for continued progress. We look forward to next year’s Symposium, where we will continue to share knowledge, celebrate achievements, and accelerate the transition to a resilient, inclusive, and circular future. The second edition of the Circular Gaia Symposium will be held in Athens on 1 and 2 October 2026.