The paper demonstrates how businesses, international institutions, financial institutions, academia and policymakers can build a thriving and resilient economy while playing an essential role in reaching climate targets.

Beyond a necessary energy transition, a fundamental change in the way goods are made and used is required to meet climate targets. Even with ambitious strategies to increase energy efficiency and move to zero-carbon energy sources, emissions from the production of steel, cement, aluminium and plastics alone will reach, cumulatively, 649 billion tonnes CO2e by 2100. Beyond significantly reducing GHG emissions, circular economy (CE) strategies also present economic opportunities and a wide array of benefits to society and the environment. The paper explores the opportunities and benefits of CE for cities in the areas of built environment, mobility and food system for reducing GHG emissions. The paper can be useful to explain the benefits of CE and how it helps to tackle climate change. While cities and regions can learn a lot from it - it is primarily educative. It explains the status quo, opportunities of CE and the roles of different actors in the global international landscape. Gaining understanding about the effects of CE on climate change could help cities and regions raise awareness among local or regional stakeholders to engage them in CE activities, including the development and implementation of Circular Systemic Solutions.