The venture is supported by the UNEP Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP RRC.AP) on "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" (3R).

The knowledge hub will function as a think-tank on technology, good practices and policy strategy and management, plus 3R-related issues, all of which promote sustainable production and consumption of limited natural resources and improved economic and environmental efficiency.

Signing a letter of intent yesterday at AIT were Bindu Lohani, director-general of the Regional and Sustainable Development Department of the Asian Development Bank (ADB); Said Irandoust, president of AIT; Surendra Shrestha, director of UNEP RRC.AP; and Rae Kwon Chung, director of the Environment and Sustainable Development Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Unescap).

Among the major functions of the 3R knowledge hub will be:

lResearching and disseminating new concepts on 3R to the region's developing countries and other stakeholders.

lPromoting the sharing of information on development-related topics, plus collaboration in providing new and constantly updated content on 3R throughout the region.

lBuilding research capacity to create knowledge in the area of 3R.

lLiaising with academic, research and scientific and technical institutions, the private sector and civil society.

lDevising and disseminating new information products on 3R, including periodicals, websites and newsletters, workshops and training courses.

3R is a major focus of AIT, a post-graduate institution with a track record stretching back more than four decades. Its expertise and experience encompasses solid waste (municipal, industrial and hazardous), water, energy, electronics and construction materials in all of their technical and management aspects.

UNEP RRC.AP was established in 1989 under UNEP's Division of Early Warning and Assessment to encompass activities involving capacity building and servicing and data management, as well as assessment and reporting. It has strong links with government and civil society groups in the region, the better to collect and disseminate 3R information, policy strategy, management and good practices.

Unescap actively promotes environmentally sustainable economic growth, or "green growth", addressing not just the pure environmental agenda, but also broader policy concerns regarding integration of environment and socio-economic development objectives.

Unescap has firm links with regional economic and social sectors, enabling it to offer added value by collecting and disseminating 3R information through its network.

The ADB, a major development institution dedicated to poverty reduction in the Asia-Pacific, is supporting several regional knowledge hubs through regional grant assistance. This year, it has signed agreements to establish a hub for clean energy at India's Energy and Resources Institute and one for public finance at the Asia Institute of Management in Manila.