The world is facing a Triple Planetary Crisis of climate change, marine pollution, and biodiversity loss. Big Ocean States such as Pacific island countries are on the front lines of these interconnected challenges, but they also show why resource-circulation systems must be designed around real capabilities. This session asks how Big Ocean States can organize those capabilities: what is already operating locally, what needs to be built at home, what dependencies make systems vulnerable, what countries can share regionally, and how materials and capabilities can connect across industries.
Zero Waste is the direction of travel, but climate benefit cannot be assumed. Resource-circulation pathways need to be tested for environmental performance, legal compliance, lifecycle emissions, commercial viability, and whether they avoid shifting burdens elsewhere. Japan and Pacific partners bring practical experience to this discussion, including local resource recovery in Palau, waste-sector climate commitments in Fiji, CORVI-based risk insights, regional cooperation through Pacific institutions, and an illustrative cross-industry example from Japan. The aim is not to promote one project, one technology, or one route. It is to build a shared policydiscussion on capability design for Big Ocean States.