India Calls for People-Centric Environmental Action at 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting
New Delhi, August 18, 2026: India has called for greater public participation, technological cooperation and effective implementation to address environmental challenges at the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting held in New Delhi under India’s chairship.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav welcomed ministers and heads of delegations from BRICS member countries and highlighted India’s approach towards strengthening cooperation among developing nations and the Global South.
Yadav said India’s BRICS chairship is guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of placing the priorities and concerns of developing countries at the centre of the global agenda. He said knowledge sharing, technology exchange and stronger institutional partnerships among BRICS nations can significantly enhance collective capacity to tackle environmental challenges.
Highlighting the growing threats posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and disaster risks, the minister said these challenges have a particularly significant impact on developing countries and local communities. He called for stronger cooperation among BRICS countries in forest-fire prevention, preparedness, early warning systems, emergency response and post-fire recovery.
The minister also stressed the importance of climate finance, adaptation measures and empowering local communities. He said environmental protection and human development should be pursued together rather than treated as separate priorities.
Citing initiatives such as Mission LiFE and Ek Pedh Maa Ke Naam, Yadav said public participation and community ownership can turn environmental protection into a broad-based people’s movement. He also called for combining traditional knowledge with modern science and technology to develop solutions that are scientifically robust, locally relevant and socially inclusive.
India’s four key priorities under its BRICS chairship include promoting sustainable lifestyles, strengthening afforestation, forest-fire management and disaster resilience, advancing the circular economy, and promoting climate adaptation.
The meeting concluded with the unanimous adoption of a Joint Ministerial Statement along with four major knowledge compilations focused on environmental protection and climate action.
The proposed outcomes include establishing a network of BRICS institutions to promote knowledge sharing, research and innovation on sustainable lifestyles; developing principles for integrated natural resource management to combat desertification and land degradation; strengthening preparedness and response to forest fires; and promoting people-centric and community-based climate adaptation based on traditional knowledge.
A high-level dialogue on climate change was also organised during the meeting. Discussions focused on integrating traditional knowledge and local practices with modern science, technology and innovation to strengthen climate adaptation.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change also set up a digital and interactive Mission LiFE Pavilion during the event. Through immersive gaming and interactive technologies, the pavilion showcased India’s key initiatives and efforts to promote sustainable lifestyles.
The two-day meeting concluded with a commitment to strengthen environmental cooperation and advance joint efforts among BRICS nations. Cultural performances by Indian artists also showcased the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage to the visiting delegates.
