The United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)-Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG)/United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) co-organized a side event during the High-Level Political Forum entitled “3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and Circular Economy towards Sustainable and Resilient Coastal and Marine Ecosystems in Asia and the Pacific – Implications towards SDG 14 (Life Below Water” at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines, the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, and UN-HABITAT, and with the support of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia – SDG. The side event which was moderated by UNCRD brought together over 80 participants from around the world, including representatives from governments, UN agencies, civil society, academia, and the private sector, to explore circular economy strategies for safeguarding coastal and marine ecosystems. Participants highlighted the pressing need to shift from linear to circular economic models in order to reduce marine pollution and build ecological resilience. Discussions concentrated on how circular economy principles can contribute to achieving the targets of SDG 14, particularly in reducing marine pollution, conserving ecosystems, and preserving biodiversity. A key highlight was the recognition of the Jaipur Declaration (2025–2035) on 3R and circular economy, which was voluntarily adopted by the participating countries of Asia-Pacific at the High-Level 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia-Pacific, held in Jaipur, India, in March 2025. Participants acknowledged the Jaipur Declaration as a strategic blueprint that places circular economy at the core of national planning, infrastructure development, investment decisions, and community action. It serves as a guiding framework for promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns and integrating circularity into policy and development agendas. Presentations highlighted a range of national and local initiatives and case studies, including the Maldives’ integration of 3R practices, UNEP’s efforts to combat plastic pollution, Toyota City’s river-to-sea ecosystem management, Malaysia’s mangrove conservation efforts as a nature based solution (NbS), UN-HABITAT’s experiences in sustainable waste management in coastal cities, Government of India’s flagship Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) and the importance of Jaipur Declaration (2025–2035) and the outlined C-3 (Cities Coalition for Circularity), Yokohama’s circular green city model, and the waste reduction efforts of a faith-based organization (Prasanti Nilayam) in India through life style changes, among others. The meeting concluded that the application of frontier technologies, improved waste management planning, infrastructure development, increased public awareness, behavioral change, and nature based solutions (NbS) are key enablers in reducing waste and advancing circular economy towards zero-waste societies and healthy and resilient coastal and marine ecosystems.
CONCEPT NOTE AND PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
- Concept Note and Programme (final)
PRESENTATIONS AND SPEECHES
- 1. Plastic pollution and Its impacts on the coastal and marine environment, and
circular economy solutions
by Ms. Mara Murillo, Senior Programme Officer of Intergovernmental Affairs, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), New York Office - 2. Toyota City’s experience to contribute to the achievement of SDG 14 – River-to-sea ecosystem including coastal protection of rivers and management of water quality –
by Mr. Toshihiko Ota, Mayor of Toyota City - 3. Critical role of mangroves in combating climate change, protecting coastal areas from erosion, and supporting biodiversity – Case of Pantai Kelanang Selangor SDG Localization Project in Pantai Kelanang, Selangor, Malaysia
by Dr. Teo Sue Ann, All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia (APPGM) – SDG Malaysia - 4. Marine debris and plastic waste management – International experiences from coastal cities
by Mr. Andre Dzikus, Officer-in Charge, New York Office and Chief of Section, UN HABITAT - 5. Jaipur Declaration (2025-2035) on 3R and circular economy & the SDGs – Lessons learned from Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean Indian Mission) (video)
by Ms. Roopa Mishra, Joint Secretary, Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA), Government of India - 6. Circular cities towards realizing a new green society – Initiative of Yokohama City
by Mr. Masahiro Nishikawa, Director of the Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas, City of Yokohama, Japan - 7. Role of faith-based organizations in advancing circular economy and zero waste societies
by Mr. Kalyan Ray, Advisor, Sri Satya Sai Central Trust, Andhra Pradesh, India - 8. Intervention
by Mr. Upendra Tripathy, IAS (Retd.), Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, Former Founding Director General, International Solar Alliance, Former Secretary MNRE, Government of India - 9. Panel Discussion/Open Discussion Questions