Amid increasing climate impacts and a fractured geopolitical order, the BRICS Summit in India underlined the importance of climate resilience in the New Delhi Declaration, along with energy security as a crucial foundation for social and economic development, national security and the welfare of all nations.
The New Delhi Declaration, a consensus document adopted on September 12 by countries in the BRICS bloc, underlined the role of fossil fuels in the world’s energy mix, particularly for emerging markets and developing economies. The expanded BRICS grouping comprises 21 countries, including 11 members and 10 partner countries. India assumed the BRICS Chairship in January, and the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit took place on September 12 and 13 in New Delhi.
The declaration recognises the importance of the energy transition and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also emphasises the principles of technological neutrality and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC).
The declaration also outlines areas for practical cooperation, including carbon markets, climate research and community-based adaptation. It calls for greater collaboration on smart grids, energy storage, hydrogen, critical minerals and efforts to decarbonise transport.
Recognising the disproportionate burden climate change imposes across countries, the declaration expresses resolve to remain united in pursuit of the purpose, principles and objectives of the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement. It also calls on all countries to uphold their existing commitments and scale up their efforts to combat climate change.
It describes protectionist measures such as carbon border adjustment mechanisms as punitive and discriminatory, and notes that such measures undermine efforts by countries, particularly developing countries.
The declaration supports carbon markets as a means of mobilising the required finance. It refers to the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on the BRICS Carbon Markets Partnership as a cooperative approach to support members in their climate strategies. It also appreciated efforts towards aligning carbon markets with adaptation goals.
The declaration highlights the importance of people-centric and community-based adaptation as an important pathway to strengthening climate resilience and sustainable development. “Developed countries shall provide additional, adequate, predictable, accessible financial resources, capacity building support, technology development and transfer to developing countries for adaptation,” the declaration states.
Besides, it talks about the value of traditional knowledge systems, the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources, along with effective implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its protocols.
It underscores the critical role of all types of forests, including boreal and tropical forests. It also acknowledges critical environmental challenges such as water availability, desertification, drought, land degradation and sand and dust storms.
Banner image: Labourers carry firewood, as smoke rises from a bricks factory on the outskirts of Jammu. (AP Photo/Channi Anand, File)
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