Working towards circular and zero waste societies in our Pacific Islands region is at the core of Pacific representation at the High-Level 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific. From 3-5 March 2025, Pacific delegates are converging in Jaipur India for the event which will chart pathways and opportunities for circular and zero waste societies in the Asia-Pacific Region.
The Forum will discuss and agree on a new voluntary 3R and Circular Economy Declaration 2025-2034 for achieving clean, resilient, sound material cycle and low-carbon societies in Asia and the Pacific.
The new Declaration will act as a policy-guiding framework for countries to facilitate integration of sustainable consumption and production practices as well as Circular Economy into national policy, planning and development.
A Circular Economy is a model of production and consumption, where materials are put back into the system so as not to become waste and nature is regenerated. In this model, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reusing, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling, and composting.”
Director of the Waste Management and Pollution Control of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Mr Anthony Talouli notes there are several ways for our Pacific Islands to incorporate a Circular Approach to Waste Management activities.
Legislation and policies across our region can include importation bans, quality control and restrictions, sustainable finance schemes, national composting programmes, remanufacture and recycling, all of which ensure the life cycle of products and materials are extended.
He puts into perspective the importance of the circularity or sustainable model as opposed to traditional economic models.
“With our dependence on raw materials, a circular economy mitigates the risks associated with the supply of such materials, such as price volatility and import dependence and in turn the circularity creates local jobs for our region and stimulates economic growth,” said Mr Talouli.
“The model also enables the protection of the environment by reducing the use of natural resources, greenhouse gas emissions, landscape and habitat disruption, energy consumption and waste generation.”
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) assists its Member countries and territories in implementing activities to promote a Circular Economy System through various projects and programmes.
SPREP is supporting our Pacific Island delegations attending the event for which further news and information will be distributed.
The objective of the High-Level 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific is to chart pathways and opportunities for realizing circular and zero waste societies in the Asia-Pacific region. It will take place from 3 – 5 March 2025 in Jaipur, India.
The Forum further aims to discuss and agree on a new voluntary 3R and Circular Economy Declaration covering the period 2025 to 2034 for achieving resource efficient, clean, resilient, sound material cycle and low-carbon societies in Asia and the Pacific. The new Declaration aims to act as a policy-guiding framework and catalyst for countries to facilitate integration of sustainable consumption and production practices as well as circular economy principles into their overall policy, planning and development, including infrastructure development. The Forum will bring together over 400 participants from Asia and the Pacific, composed of senior government officials, representatives of the United Nations system, scientific institutions, the private sector, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
For further information please visit https://uncrd.un.org/content/12th-3r-ce-forum