NEW DELHI: India on Thursday called on the BRICS group of nations to unite on the ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’ to mobilise $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for achieving climate action goals. The group, which earlier comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, now has 11 countries as its members, collectively negotiating for climate governance at multilateral forums, including the UN climate conference.
India pitched for a collaborative approach to achieve the climate action goals—nationally determined contributions—at the 11th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Brasilia, Brazil. The 30th session of the UN climate conference (COP30) will be held in Belem, Brazil, in November.
Articulating the country’s stand, the Indian team led by Amandeep Garg, Additional Secretary in the Environment Ministry, urged the BRICS partners to strengthen climate financing mechanisms to meet global sustainability commitments effectively. They highlighted the urgent need for developed nations to fulfil their commitments, noting that the proposed $300 billion per year by 2035 under the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance is far below the required $1.3 trillion.
With BRICS nations facing common environmental challenges such as desertification, pollution, and biodiversity loss, India stressed the importance of collective action and shared responsibility. The country also reiterated its leadership in conservation and sustainability, mentioning initiatives such as the International Big Cat Alliance, a global effort for wildlife conservation.
Reaffirming its commitment to working collaboratively with BRICS partners to drive transformative change in climate action, environmental cooperation, and sustainable development, India, during its participation, urged all 11 nations to join global sustainability initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT), and Global Biofuel Alliance to accelerate collective climate action.
BRICS nations collectively account for 47% of the world’s population and contribute 36% of global GDP. Six countries that joined the group in the past year include Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, Iran, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia.
On energy security, India reiterated commitments made in the BRICS New Delhi Declaration (2021), which promotes a diversified energy mix, including fossil fuels, hydrogen, nuclear, and renewables.
“A Just Transition must acknowledge the diverse economic realities of nations. Each country has a unique development pathway, and the provision of adequate means of implementation—in finance, technology, and capacity-building—is essential to ensuring that no nation or community is left behind in this transition. As BRICS nations, we must strengthen our engagements in multilateral forums, championing the interests of developing economies and advocating for a fair and equitable transition,” said India’s statement issued at the meeting.
