As part of India’s BRICS chairship in 2026, the country will be hosting the BRICS Environment Working Group meetings in New Delhi from 17 to 18 August at Bharat Mandapam.
The meetings will be conducted under the theme of environment ministers of the member countries of the BRICS summit held under “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” of India.
The BRICS Senior Officers’ Meeting of the Environment Working Group (EWG) and Meeting of the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development will take place on the first day (August 17). The topics will be environmental priorities, climate change and sustainable development.
The 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting will take place at Delhi on 18th of August with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav as Chair of the meeting. The meeting is expected to be a forum for the member countries to discuss matters related to environmental cooperation, foster consensus and actions of environmental cooperation.
The BRICS Environment Working Group was created in the first meeting of the Environment Ministers of the BRICS countries that took place in Moscow in 2015. It will seek solutions to major environmental issues, share experience and promote best practices and collaborations between member countries.
In 2024 the BRICS Contact Group on Climate Change and sustainable Development was created, aiming to enhance cooperation between the four countries related to climate change issues.
In its role of 2026 Chair of BRICS, India has drawn out four priorities for engagement under the Environment Working Group. These are promoting sustainable lifestyle, afforestation and forest fire management, climate change adaptation, disaster resilience and circular economy.
The outcome document and thematic issues of environmental protection and sustainable development are expected to be discussed at the ministerial level at the end of the 2-day meetings, which are to be characterized by the joint will of BRICS countries to enhance cooperation on the environment field.