10-11 June 2014, Kobe, Japan — A group of 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) experts from the Asia-Pacific region along with representative of APN’s Scientific Planning Group (SPG) and its Secretariat attended a scoping meeting on 10–11 June 2014, to discuss possible priority topics and activities to be conducted under a 3R framework.

Participants also discussed potential funding opportunities and collaboration with existing networks to leverage and promote the outcomes of 3R research and capacity development activities, particularly in addressing the issue of greenhouse gases reduction.

This comes at a time when depletion of natural resources due to increasing consumption trend along with the rising economy has been a critical challenge in global development. As a response, resource and material use efficiency has become one of the important development agenda, and many governments with multi-stakeholder supports have been developing and implementing policies and programmes to achieve this goal.

It is with this background that the APN responds to the need by its member countries and conducted this scoping meeting to develop a 3R framework, especially as 3R issues are in line with one of APN’s scientific agenda.

In consultation with the group of experts invited during the scoping meeting, the APN will further develop the 3R Framework and possibly link it with the existing Low Carbon Initiative Framework. The new framework will aim to contribute in realising a resource-efficient and sound material cycle society.