Addressing the Triple Planetary Crisis through Zero Waste in Big Ocean States: Synergies for Climate, Ocean, and Biodiversity

The world is facing a "Triple Planetary Crisis" of climate change, marine pollution (particularly plastics), and biodiversity loss. Island nations, often referred to as SIDS but more accurately recognized as "Big Ocean States" due to their vast ocean territories and stewardship, are on the front lines of these interconnected crises. Japan, sharing this identity as a Big Ocean State with a massive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), stands in solidarity with partner nations like Palau and Fiji to tackle these shared challenges. The "Zero Waste" initiative, championed globally by Türkiye, offers a holistic solution. In Big Ocean States, Zero Waste serves as a direct climate mitigation strategy, a marine conservation imperative, and a vital step for biodiversity protection. Japan has actively supported these efforts through initiatives like JICA’s J-PRISM. Furthermore, with the backing of The Nippon Foundation, the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) has been bridging policy and practice. This includes supporting large-scale marine debris reduction projects like "Oceans X" and pioneering innovative circular economy policies—such as utilizing biological resources like oyster shells for CO2 reduction. By combining these policy research insights with the practical experiences of Koror State Recycling Center in Palau and ongoing efforts in Fiji, we aim to design next-generation resource circulation models tailored for Big Ocean States.