New Delhi, 16 August (H.S.): India will host key BRICS environmental meetings in New Delhi on August 17 and 18 as part of its BRICS Chairship for 2026, with member countries expected to discuss climate resilience, sustainable development and stronger environmental cooperation.

The two-day programme will begin on August 17 with meetings of senior officials under the BRICS Environment Working Group, along with the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development. The 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting will follow on August 18.

The meetings will be held under India’s BRICS 2026 theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav is expected to chair the ministerial-level meeting.

The discussions will bring together ministers, senior officials, policymakers and environmental experts from BRICS member countries to exchange experiences, develop common approaches and strengthen cooperation on environmental challenges.

India has identified four priority areas for discussions under its BRICS Environment Working Group chairship.

The first priority focuses on promoting sustainable lifestyles through responsible consumption, community participation and the exchange of successful practices among member countries.

The second area centres on afforestation, forest-fire management and disaster resilience. It seeks to strengthen land restoration, improve monitoring and early-warning systems, and enhance preparedness and rapid response to forest fires and other environmental risks.

The third priority is the circular economy, with discussions expected to focus on waste management, resource efficiency and Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks. The initiative aims to encourage better use of resources and promote more sustainable production and consumption patterns.

The fourth priority concerns climate adaptation, with an emphasis on people-centred and community-led approaches. Discussions will also examine how traditional knowledge and the exchange of best practices can contribute to strengthening climate resilience.

Ahead of the New Delhi meetings, India’s Environment Ministry conducted a series of virtual meetings, technical sessions, webinars and policy dialogues between March and July. These engagements covered issues including resource efficiency, the circular economy, carbon markets, land degradation, desertification, drought and integrated wildfire management.

The BRICS Environment Working Group was established in 2015 at the first BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Moscow. It serves as a platform for member countries to exchange experiences, share best practices and coordinate efforts on key environmental issues.

The Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development was established in 2024 to strengthen cooperation among BRICS countries on climate-related challenges.

The upcoming meetings in New Delhi are expected to build on these consultations and work towards common policy priorities on environmental protection, climate adaptation and sustainable development.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar