NEW DELHI: Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav welcomed Ministers and Heads of Delegations from BRICS Member Countries to the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, being held in New Delhi.

Delivering his keynote address, Yadav stated that India’s Chairship is guided by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in placing the concerns of the Global South at the forefront of the agenda and redefining BRICS as “Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability”, with a people-centric approach and the spirit of “Humanity First”.

Yadav 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.

Emphasising India’s approach, the Minister said “ecological restoration and human development can advance together”, citing Mission LiFE and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam as examples of combining ecological restoration, public participation and community ownership. He also called for bringing traditional knowledge and modern science together to ensure solutions are “scientifically robust, locally relevant and socially inclusive”. The Minister talked about how India’s new Nationally Determined Contribution for 2031-2035 further reflects the ambitious commitment to advancing climate action while supporting inclusive development and energy security.

The Minister outlined four priorities of India’s BRICS Chairship: Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles; Afforestation, Forest Fire Management and Disaster Resilience; Circular Economy; and Adaptation. He said “together, these four priorities reflect a simple yet powerful conviction - environmental action must remain people-centric and sustainable, implementation or action-oriented and responsive to the realities of developing countries”.

Yadav said the progress achieved during India’s Chairship reflects months of dialogue, negotiation and collaboration. The Minister called for building resilience without leaving communities behind, pursuing innovation with responsibility and placing sustainability at the centre of development. He further stressed that BRICS can “convert cooperation into collective and co-operative capability” through knowledge networks, technical exchanges, training, technology cooperation and stronger institutional partnerships.