India on Thursday called for collective leadership to advance the 2030 Climate Agenda—a comprehensive set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all UN member states in 2015, with a target completion date of 2030.
Speaking at the 11th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Brasília, Brazil, the Indian delegation, led by Amandeep Garg, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), urged BRICS nations to strengthen climate financing mechanisms.
A key focus was the Baku to Belem Roadmap, aimed at securing $1.3 trillion in climate finance to support Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). India called for enhanced climate financing mechanisms to help BRICS nations meet their sustainability commitments.
India also highlighted that the proposed $300 billion per year by 2035 under the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance falls significantly short of the $1.3 trillion target. The Indian delegation emphasized that COP30, to be hosted by Brazil, will be a defining moment for advancing global climate adaptation and resilience.
Underscoring BRICS’ pivotal role in shaping global climate policy, India noted that the bloc accounts for 47% of the world’s population and 36% of global GDP (PPP). It stressed the importance of equitable carbon budget utilization and a fair transition that allows developing countries to pursue growth while meeting climate goals.
On the energy front, India reaffirmed the BRICS New Delhi Declaration (2021), which advocates for a diversified energy mix—embracing fossil fuels, nuclear, hydrogen, and renewables. It also spotlighted the Green Grids Initiative – One Sun, One World, One Grid, as a key global effort to enhance renewable energy integration.
India underlined the value of resource efficiency and circular economy approaches, citing the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC), launched under its G20 Presidency, as a replicable model for international cooperation on sustainable resource use.
Calling for a “Just Transition,” India urged recognition of the varied economic realities of developing countries. It stressed that equitable access to finance, technology, and capacity-building must remain central to global climate negotiations. BRICS, it said, should play a stronger role in multilateral forums and champion the voice of the Global South.
With BRICS expanding to 11 members, India noted the coalition’s enhanced capacity to influence global environmental governance. It called for joint responses to shared challenges such as desertification, air and water pollution, and biodiversity loss.
India reiterated the importance of continued BRICS collaboration in key forums like the UNFCCC, UNCCD, CBD, and UNEA, and reaffirmed the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) as a cornerstone of climate diplomacy.
Acknowledging BRICS’ progress in sustainability, India cited initiatives like the Partnership for Urban Environmental Sustainability, the Clean Rivers Programme, and Sustainable Urban Management. It called for deeper cooperation in tackling marine plastic pollution, improving air quality, and advancing circular economy practices.
Reaffirming its commitment to conservation, India spotlighted the International Big Cat Alliance and encouraged fellow BRICS nations to join other global initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, the Leadership Group for Industry Transition, and the Global Biofuel Alliance to collectively accelerate sustainable development and climate action.
