The two-day BRICS agenda will focus on sustainable lifestyles, forest and disaster resilience, circular economy and climate adaptation under India’s 2026 chairship priorities.
India will host meetings of the BRICS Environment Working Group in New Delhi from August 17-18, with environment ministers from member countries set to meet on the second day, the environment ministry said on Sunday.
The meetings will take place at Bharat Mandapam under the overarching theme of India’s BRICS chairship 2026, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, officials said.
The BRICS Senior Officers’ Meeting of the Environment Working Group, or EWG, and the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development will meet on Monday, according to the ministry.
New Delhi will then host the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting on Tuesday.
The ministerial meeting will be presided over by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and is intended to provide a platform for ministers, senior officers, policymakers and experts from BRICS member countries to hold substantive discussions, build consensus and strengthen environmental cooperation.
The BRICS Environment Working Group was established in 2015 during the first BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Moscow to address fundamental environmental priorities, exchange experiences, share best practices and strengthen collective action among member countries.
The Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development was established in 2024 as a mechanism for cooperation among BRICS members on climate change issues.
Officials said the first day would feature the Senior Officers’ Meeting, including an inaugural session and discussions on the priorities of the Environment Working Group and the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development.
“The second day would culminate in ministerial-level deliberations on the outcome document and thematic discussions that underscore the collective commitment of BRICS Member Countries to environmental cooperation and sustainable development. As part of the Chairship, India has identified four priority areas for focused engagements under the BRICS Environment Working Group,” the ministry said in a statement.
The four priorities are promoting sustainable lifestyles; afforestation, forest fire management and disaster resilience; circular economy and adaptation to climate change.
The ministry said India had already initiated discussions and deliberations under its chairship through a series of virtual meetings, technical sessions, webinars and dialogues held between March and July 2026.
“Dialogue on BRICS resource efficiency and circular economy, and aligning carbon markets with adaptation goals, besides webinars on initiatives towards addressing land degradation, desertification and drought, and integrated approaches to wildfire management for disaster resilience were also organised,” the ministry said.
