India Hosts 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting

According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India has identified key areas for focused engagement under the BRICS Environment Working Group. These include promoting sustainable lifestyles, afforestation, forest fire management and disaster resilience, circular economy, and adaptation.

The priorities reflect India’s emphasis on linking environmental protection with sustainable development and climate resilience. The discussions are also expected to encourage greater sharing of policies, technologies, experiences and best practices among BRICS countries.

The meeting assumes significance as India seeks to use its BRICS Chairship to advance cooperation on issues affecting developing economies, including climate adaptation, ecosystem restoration, resource efficiency and disaster resilience.

The ministerial-level deliberations are expected to build upon ongoing discussions among senior officials and working groups, and to strengthen the environmental agenda of BRICS during India’s 2026 chairship.

Earlier on Monday, India highlighted that the BRICS alliance has expanded from an economic dialogue into an increasingly influential platform for defining its approach to the critical challenges facing the environment, including pressing global issues of increasing pollution, biodiversity loss as well as global warming.

The BRICS Environment Working Group-Senior Officers’ Meeting, held at Bharat Mandapam here and chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Tanmay Kumar, saw participation from BRICS member countries including Brazil, China, Egypt, Federal Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).