India launched the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3), a multi-nation alliance focused on city-to-city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private-sector partnerships for sustainable urban development.
- The initiative aims to promote waste management and resource efficiency in economies across the Asia-Pacific region.
Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3)
Key Objectives of C-3
- Provide a platform for policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and development partners to discuss sustainable solutions.
- Facilitate collaboration between cities to exchange best practices on circular economy principles.
- Promote the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R) approach for sustainable waste management.
- Encourage public-private partnerships to enhance urban sustainability efforts.
India’s Commitment to Circular Economy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s Pro-Planet People (P3) approach, advocating for the 3R principles. India has been proactive in sharing its experience and best practices with other nations in transitioning towards a circular economy.
Circular Economy
What is a Circular Economy?
- A Circular Economy (CE) is an economic system where products are designed for durability, reuse, and recyclability, ensuring minimal waste.
- It emphasizes remanufacturing, recycling, and resource recovery instead of the traditional linear “take-make-dispose” model.
- The 6 R’s of Circular Economy:
- Reduce – Minimize resource consumption.
- Reuse – Extend product life through repeated use.
- Recycle – Convert waste into new materials.
- Refurbish – Restore old products for further use.
- Recover – Extract useful materials or energy from waste.
- Repair – Fix damaged goods instead of discarding them.
Need for a Circular Economy in India
- Resource Efficiency: Maximizing the use of materials while reducing waste generation.
- Economic Growth: Encourages sustainable production and consumption patterns, supporting industrial development.
- Environmental Concerns: Addresses rising pollution, climate change impacts, and waste management issues.
- Cultural Alignment: India has a traditional culture of reuse and recycling, making CE a natural fit.
- Global Sustainability Goals: Aligns with India’s commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs).
Global Responses to Circular Economy
- Germany & Japan: Incorporated CE as a binding principle for economic reorganization.
- China: Implemented a Circular Economy Promotion Law, making CE a legal obligation.
India’s Circular Economy Initiatives
- Budget 2022-23: Recognized CE as crucial for sustainable economic growth.
- Regulatory Framework:
- Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 – Regulates battery disposal and recycling.
- Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2022 – Strengthens plastic waste reduction and recycling measures.
- e-Waste Management Rules 2022 – Sets disposal targets for electronic waste producers and importers.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR):
- Mandates producers and importers to take responsibility for managing waste disposal.
- Enables stakeholder transactions through EPR certificate mechanisms.
- Sector-Specific Action Plans:
- Formulated across 10 key sectors, including:
- E-waste
- Lithium-ion batteries
- End-of-life vehicles
- Scrap metal
- Municipal solid waste
- Focuses on reusing secondary materials and reducing reliance on primary resources.
- Formulated across 10 key sectors, including:
CITIIS 2.0 and Financial Commitments
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for CITIIS 2.0 (City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0) was signed at the launch event in Jaipur.
- Union Minister announced agreements worth ₹1,800 crore under this initiative.
- 18 cities across 14 states will benefit, serving as lighthouse projects for other urban centers.
Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum
- Established in 2009, the forum focuses on:
- Sustainable waste management
- Resource efficiency
- Circular economy principles
- Recognizes challenges such as:
- Rapid economic growth
- Resource depletion
- Increasing waste generation
Key Milestone: Hanoi 3R Declaration (2013-2023)
- Outlined 33 voluntary goals for achieving a resource-efficient and circular economy.
- Strengthened commitments toward waste reduction, recycling, and sustainable resource use.
India’s leadership in circular economy efforts is reinforced through the C-3 coalition, benefiting cities globally. The initiative aligns with international sustainability goals and fosters urban innovation for a greener future.