Cailean Henderson from NES recently attended the Pacific Small Islands Developing States Consultation Meeting regarding the Pre-Zero Draft of the New Declaration on 3R and Circular Economy. The scheduled meeting took place at the SPREP headquarters in Apia, Samoa. This collaborative event is jointly organised by SPREP and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) of Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG)/UN DESA, with support from the SWAP project, JPRISM III, and SWITCH-Asia.
The groundwork for this gathering was laid by the Hanoi 3R Declaration and its 33 sustainable 3R goals set for 2013-2023. Originating from the 4th Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific held in HaNoi, Viet Nam in 2013, this declaration marked a significant voluntary commitment by Asia-Pacific countries towards a more resource-efficient and circular society. Over the years, subsequent 3R Forums have reiterated the importance of developing a follow-up Declaration for 2024-2034, emphasising the necessity for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to embed sustainable production and consumption practices as well as circular economy principles into their policies, planning, and development frameworks.
In alignment with global initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, the upcoming 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in late 2024, to be hosted by the Government of Vietnam, is anticipated to serve as a platform for discussions and agreements on the new Declaration.
