Under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, Senior Officers’ Meeting of the Environment Working Group and Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development was held in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on Monday, according to a statement by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.


The meeting was chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, Shri Tanmay Kumar.


The meeting brought together BRICS member countries including Federative Republic of Brazil, People’s Republic of China, Arab Republic of Egypt, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Republic of Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Russian Federation, Republic of South Africa and United Arab Emirates.


In his keynote address, the chair highlighted the expansion of BRICS alliance transforming into an increasingly influential platform for defining its approach to the critical challenges facing the environment, including pressing global issues of increasing pollution, biodiversity loss as well as global warming. He added, "Our partnership has broadened in terms of relevance to sustainable development, climate resilience and adaptation, resource efficiency and circular economy, as well as environmental governance."


Furthermore, the chair informed that BRICS 2026, guided by the vision of the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi that global cooperation must remain people-centric by advancing a humanity-first approach aligns with the Chairship theme - 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability'.


Over the course of India’s Chairship, the Environment Working Group and the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development have together advanced cooperation across four interconnected priority areas: Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles; Afforestation, Forest Fire Management and Disaster Resilience; Circular Economy and Adaptation.


Furthermore, The 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Tuesday, as per the released statement.