12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum
⦿ Jaipur, Rajasthan hosted the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific emphasizing on sustainable waste management and circular economy.
⦿ A circular economy focuses on durable, reusable, and recyclable products, ensuring materials are continuously repurposed, remanufactured, or used for various purposes.
⦿ It is a regional platform that promotes 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) principles and circular economy practices across the Asia-Pacific region.
⦿ It brings together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and partners to advance resource efficiency strategies.
⦿It was launched in 2009 to promote 3R principles and resource efficiency.
⦿ Circular economy strategies to achieve net-zero targets and SDGs.
⦿ P-3 (Pro Planet People) Approach: India’s PM advocated the P-3 approach for sustainable lifestyles and eco-friendly behavior.
⦿ Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3): The C-3, a global alliance for city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private sector partnerships, was launched.
⦿ CITIIS 2.0: A key MoU for CITIIS 2.0 (City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain) was signed that focuses on integrated waste management and climate action.
Programmes of Circular Economy & 3R Policies in India
⦿ Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U): Achieved 108.62% of the household toilet construction target and successfully processed 80.29% of solid waste.
⦿ GOBAR-Dhan Scheme: 1,008 biogas plants are operational, covering 67.8% of India’s districts.
⦿ E-Waste Management Rules, 2022: For FY 2024-25, 5,82,769 MT of e-waste was collected, with 5,18,240 MT successfully recycled.
⦿ Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021: India banned single use plastic on 1st July 2022.
Colossal A23a
⦿ The world’s largest iceberg, Colossal A23a (3,672 sq. km), is stuck about 70 km from South Georgia Island, likely avoiding ecological harm to its wildlife habitats.
⦿ A23a broke from the Filchner Ice Shelf (Antarctica) in 1986.
⦿ Nutrients released from the iceberg’s grounding and melting may boost marine food availability, supporting the regional ecosystem.
Imp. Facts about Antarctica
Antarctica is Earth’s southernmost and least-populated continent.
Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent.
It is mainly a polar desert.
About 70% of the world’s freshwater reserves are frozen in Antarctica.
Antarctica holds the record for the lowest measured temperature on Earth, −89.2 °C .
Antarctica is governed by about 30 countries, all of which are parties of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty System.