India launches multi-nation alliance for collaboration on sustainable development

The Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3) officially started on March 3, 2025 as India launched this initiative to support sustainable urban development through city-to-city collaboration and knowledge-sharing and private sector partnerships. Narendra Modi as Prime Minister focused on the Pro-Planet People (P3) strategy and the 3R principles including Reduce, Reuse and Recycle to achieve resource efficiency.

A signing of the CITIIS 2.0 MoU for ₹1,800 crore established the program to benefit 18 cities from 14 states operating as lighthouse projects at Jaipur. The initiative continues the development established by both the Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum alongside its Hanoi 3R Declaration (2013-2023) which contains thirty-three voluntary sustainability goals.

Introduction

• Launch Date: March 3, 2025

• Initiator: India

• The goal of this mission entails the advancement of sustainable metropolis development through mutual city exchanges which unite expertise sharing with private sector cooperation.

• The Asia-Pacific area will benefit from waste management practices combined with resource efficiency and circular economy principles.

What is Circular Economy?

The circular economy functions as a design structure aimed at maintaining materials as valuable resources and natural systems at regeneration status. The circular economy differs from linear economy processes by avoiding the production of waste through its inception.

Fundamental three principles of the circular economy

• Eliminate waste and pollution

• Kinds of products together with materials should circulate through stages offering maximum value with each cycle

• Regenerate nature

Importance of Circular Economy

• Product maintenance and material circulation occurs through continuous use of assets along with maintenance as well as reuse and refurbishment and remanufacturing and materials recycling and composting processes. 

• The circular economy serves as a sustainable economic system by cutting the link between resource depletion and economic production which enables effective action on climate change and biodiversity loss and waste reduction and pollution reduction.

India's Leadership & Commitment

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Message:

  • Advocates the Pro-Planet People (P3) approach.

  • Stresses the role of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) in sustainability.

  • India shows its readiness to provide experiences as well as share gained knowledge.

  • A working group should establish the operational framework for the coalition through finalization of its structure according to the proposal.

Key Agreements & Initiatives

• CITIIS 2.0 MoU Signed in Jaipur:

  • Significance: Strengthens urban sustainability initiatives.

  • Funding: Agreements worth ₹1,800 crore.

  • Impact: Supports 18 cities across 14 states.

  • Development of lighthouse projects serves to guide urban development as the main purpose.

Background: Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum

• Established: 2009

• Asia-Pacific needs sustainable waste management approaches combined with resource efficiency and circular economy practices to fulfill the coalition's strategic goal.

• Challenges Addressed:

• Rapid economic growth.

• Resource depletion.

• Increasing waste generation.

• Milestone: Hanoi 3R Declaration (2013-2023) with 33 voluntary goals for resource efficiency.

Importance & Future Prospects

• India advances to become a prominent global leader when it comes to sustainability practices.

• International cooperation in urban sustainability becomes stronger due to this initiative.

• The circular economy initiative stimulates innovation and private capital growth for circular economy initiatives.

• Potential for replication in other global regions for broader environmental impact.

Conclusion

C-3 positions India to become a global leader in the circular economy while driving improvements in policy creation and technology usage and financial market interest respectively. Through its CITIIS 2.0 investment the plan targets the development of urban sustainability projects that can scale. Sustainable urbanization will have C-3 as its global leading example thanks to its waste reduction initiatives and resource efficiency approaches and climate-resilient focus which drives impactful city partnerships.