India launches multi-nation alliance for collaboration on sustainable development

Sub : Env

Sec : Int conventions

Context:

India launched the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3), a multi-nation alliance aimed at fostering city-to-city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private sector partnerships for sustainable urban development at the 12^th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum.
This initiative will provide a platform for policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and development partners to discuss and implement solutions for waste management and resource efficiency in Asia-Pacific economies.
At the event in Jaipur, a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the CITIIS 2.0 initiative was also signed.

Objectives of C-3:

To promote sustainable urban development.
To enhance waste management practices and resource efficiency.
To support the implementation of circular economy principles, including the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), across cities in the Asia-Pacific region.

India’s Role in C-3:

In a special written message during the launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles. He highlighted the country’s advocacy for the “P (Pro-Planet People)” approach, which focuses on environmental sustainability, and the importance of the 3Rs for achieving resource efficiency.
He also stated that India is willing to share its experiences and learnings in creating a circular economy and proposed the formation of a working group of member nations to finalize the coalition’s structure and operational framework.

Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum:

The Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific was launched in 2009 to promote sustainable waste management, resource efficiency, and the adoption of circular economy principles across the region.
It serves as a key platform for policy dialogue, capacity-building, and collaboration among governments, industry, and other stakeholders.
One of the major milestones of the forum was the adoption of the Hanoi 3R Declaration (2013-2023), which set out 33 voluntary goals for member countries to shift towards a resource-efficient and circular economy.

CITIIS 2.0 Initiative:

The CITIIS 2.0 (City Investments to Innovate, Integrate, and Sustain) initiative is aimed at enhancing urban infrastructure and promoting sustainable development in Indian cities.
It seeks to implement innovative solutions for urban challenges, focusing on climate resilience, resource efficiency, and sustainability.
CITIIS 2.0, implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), is partnered with the French Development Agency (AFD), Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the European Union (EU), and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
The program will run from 2023 to 2027.