Results of the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific

March 3-5, 2025

Jaipur City, Rajasthan, Republic of India

Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA), Republic of India
United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
 

Senior officials and policy makers from governments of 30 countries in Asia and Pacific Islands
Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Palau, the Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Viet Nam

International organizations
United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN‒Habitat)
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)
Japan Society of Material Cycles and Waste Management (JSMCWM)
and others

Around 1,000 participants
From the Ministry of the Environment, MATSUZAWA Yutaka, Vice Minister for Global Environmental Affairs and other officials attended the meeting.

Realizing Circular Societies Towards Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality in Asia-Pacific

Participants made presentations and exchanged views mainly on the following eight topics:
(1)Ministerial (high-level) statements on current and future plans and policies in respective countries about 3R and circular economy
(2)3R and circular economy towards resilient, low-carbon and sustainable cities and communities
(3)Circular economy policies - translating global vision into local actions
(4)Introduction on “New Declaration”
(5)Nature-based solutions (NbS) and circular economy
(6)Launch of the 2nd State of the 3Rs in Asia and the Pacific Report
(7)Greening SMEs towards circular society including the role of Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
(8)Discussion and adoption of the Jaipur Declaration

Chair’s Summary was submitted by the host country, and an outcome document of the forum, “Jaipur Declaration on 3R and Circular Economy – Sustainable 3R and Circular Economy Goals for Achieving Resource Efficient, Clean, Resilient, Sound Material Cycle and Low-Carbon Society in Asia and the Pacific (2025-2035)” was adopted as the successor of the “Hanoi Declaration on 3R” (for 2023-2023).”
In the new declaration, contents on circular economy were added to the “Hanoi Declaration on 3R,” and fundamental principles related to circular economy (Common Vision) was proposed. Thirteen voluntary goals were also set to advance the transition to circular economy.
As a reference to support the implementation of the declaration, Guidance Note, which shows examples of strategies, actions and indicators, was formulated. Moreover, the 2nd State of the 3Rs in Asia and the Pacific Report was launched. For the related documents, please refer to the following website of the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD):
https://uncrd.un.org/content/12th-3r-ce-forum

(Reference)
Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific
The Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific was established in 2009, at Japan’s proposal as a platform for broad cooperation on promotion of the 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle – in Asia. Members include central governments, international agencies, aid agencies, private sector entities, research bodies, NGOs and other relevant parties.
The forum aims at promoting high-level policy dialogues on 3R and circular economy, promoting support for the implementation of the 3R projects in member countries, sharing information on systems and technologies that contribute to the promotion of 3R and circular economy, and building networks with other relevant parties. The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) of Japan has co-organized every forum together with the governments of host countries and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD). From the 10th forum, “Circular Economy” was added to the name.

Past Forums
-The 1st Regional 3R Forum in Asia
(Inaugural Forum, Nov 2009 / Japan)
-The 2nd Regional 3R Forum in Asia
(Oct 2010 / Malaysia)
-The 3rd Regional 3R Forum in Asia
(Oct 2011 / Singapore)
-The 4th Regional 3R Forum in Asia
(Mar 2013 / Viet Nam)
-The 5th Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific
(Feb 2014 / Indonesia)
-The 6th Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific
(Aug 2015 / Maldives)
-The 7th Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific
(Nov 2016 / Australia)
-The 8th Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific
(Apr 2018 / India)
-The 9th Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific
(Mar 2019 / Bangkok, Thailand)
-The 10th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific
(Nov-Dec 2020 / Series of Webinars)
-The 11th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific
(Feb 2023 / Cambodia)
-The 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific
(Mar 2025 / India)