BRICS to address environmental concerns

India hosted the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi recently and called for stronger, people-centric and implementation-orientated environmental action. The discussions were held under the overarching theme of India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’ and provided a platform for BRICS member countries to exchange views, build consensus and strengthen practical cooperation on pressing environmental challenges.

The Indian Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, delivering his keynote address, said environmental cooperation should focus on building resilience and innovation while keeping sustainability at the centre of development. As reported by the India Gazette, the Minister also highlighted the growing global environmental challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and disaster risks, particularly for developing countries where environmental vulnerability is often closely intertwined with broader development priorities. He called for stronger BRICS cooperation on forest fire prevention, preparedness, early warning, response and post-fire recovery, while stressing the importance of climate finance, adaptation and empowering local communities.

Mr Yadav, along with Heads of Delegations of BRICS member countries, unveiled four knowledge Compendiums prepared by the BRICS Environment Working Group. The documents reflect leading practices, knowledge systems and innovations amongst the BRICS Member Countries. These Compendiums are the outcome of constructive and meaningful deliberations undertaken in the BRICS Environment Working Group, culminating in the development of four collaborative knowledge products. Together, they embody the spirit of cooperation and reflect the national experiences, leading practices, innovative solutions, and local knowledge systems of BRICS Member Countries.

During India’s Chairship, the Environment Working Group and the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development have focused their cooperation on four interconnected areas — promoting sustainable lifestyles; afforestation, forest fire management and disaster resilience; circular economy; and adaptation. The priorities reflect the common environmental challenges faced by BRICS countries and the need for coordinated responses, officials said. The meeting emphasised that climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, resource efficiency and sustainable development are closely interconnected and require integrated approaches rather than isolated interventions.

A Down to Earth (DTE) analysis points out that on forests and land, the ministers called for integrated, landscape-based approaches to afforestation, reforestation and ecosystem restoration. They also stressed the need for adequate, predictable and long-term financing for forest conservation and resilient landscapes, including innovative mechanisms and private investment. The countries endorsed greater cooperation on wildfire management, including interoperable early warning systems, risk assessment tools, satellite and ground-based ecosystem monitoring and community-based alert mechanisms. The statement welcomed two documents issued under India’s Chairship: the Common Understanding for Forest Fire Preparedness and Response across BRICS and the BRICS Principles for Integrated Landscape Management for Combating Desertification, Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Resilience.

On the circular economy, the DTE analysis adds, the ministers highlighted the transition away from a linear take, make and dispose model and called for stronger waste management frameworks, extended producer responsibility, eco design, sustainable public procurement and investment in recycling and recovery infrastructure. They also invited international financial institutions, including the New Development Bank, to support developing countries’ efforts to build circular infrastructure. The statement further endorsed BRICS principles for climate resilience based on people-centric and community-based adaptation, with an emphasis on integrating traditional, indigenous, local and scientific knowledge.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Joint Ministerial Statement that reiterated their commitment to strengthening collaboration on environmental protection and sustainable development. BRICS Nations also reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement. They emphasised that enhanced international cooperation including availability of finance from developed countries is essential to enable developing countries to effectively address environmental and climate challenges while advancing sustainable development and poverty eradication. The statement also said that the BRICS nations believe that cooperation and collaboration within BRICS, and beyond, including through South-South cooperation, will pave the way towards sustainable development with a people-centred approach.

As the DTE analysis highlights, the ministers also reaffirmed cooperation through existing initiatives, including the BRICS Environmentally Sound Technology Platform, the BRICS Clean Rivers and the BRICS Partnership for Urban Environmental Sustainability. China will host the 13th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in 2027.