India, on March 3, 2025, introduced the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3), a global alliance focused on city-to-city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private sector partnerships to advance circular economy practices.
- This initiative was announced at the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific, which concluded with the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration by participating nations.
Key Highlights of the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum
- Jaipur Declaration: Lays out strategies for resource efficiency, sustainable material consumption, and waste management.
- Launch of C-3: India’s initiative to enhance urban circular economy collaboration.
- CITIIS 2.0 Rollout: Agreements worth ₹1,800 crore signed for waste management and climate action projects across 18 cities in 14 states.
- New Initiatives Introduced:
- SBM Waste to Wealth PMS Portal: Digital platform for sustainable waste management.
- IFC Document Reference Guide: Resource to assist cities in implementing circular economy projects.
- ‘Circular Sutra’: A compilation of 126 best practices in circular economy from across India, curated by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
What is CITIIS 2.0?
- City Investments to Innovate, Integrate, and Sustain (CITIIS) is a part of India’s Smart Cities Mission.
- Partners: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), German Development Bank (KfW), European Union (EU), and NIUA.
- Objectives:
- City-Level: Implement integrated waste management projects.
- State-Level: Introduce climate-oriented reforms.
- National-Level: Strengthen institutions and knowledge-sharing.
(Sources: PIB & CITIIS)
