BRICS Environment Ministers Adopt the New Delhi Statement on
Environment
India
gives Great Importance to BRICS; 2021 a Crucial year not only for the BRICS but
for the Whole World
At the 7th meeting of the BRICS Environment
Ministerial 2021, India stressed on the need for taking concrete collective
global actions against global environment and climate challenge, guided by equity,
national priorities and circumstances, and the principles of “Common but Differentiated
Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)”.
The meeting was held virtually at Sushma
Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi, under
the chair of India and was participated by the Environment Ministers from the
BRICS nations. The meeting was preceded by the BRICS Joint Working Group on
Environment meeting on 26th August, 2021.
Chairing the Meeting, Bhupender
Yadav, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change stated that India
gives great importance to BRICS and said that 2021 is a very crucial year not
only for the BRICS but for the whole world as well, as we have UN Biodiversity
COP 15 in October and UNFCCC COP 26 in November and emphasized that BRICS
Countries can play a very significant role in addressing the contemporary
global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, air pollution, marine
plastic litter, etc.
Referring to the recent findings of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group 1 contribution to the Sixth
Assessment Report “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science”, Shri Yadav said
that report has given enough, may be the last signal, for taking concrete
collective global actions against Global environmental and climate challenges.
The Environment Minister informed the BRICS Ministerial
that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi how
India is today leading by example by taking several robust steps in the field
of renewable energy, sustainable habitats, creation of carbon sinks through
additional forest and tree cover, transition to sustainable transport,
e-mobility, mobilizing the private sector to make climate commitments, etc.
Shri Yadav also mentioned about the importance of
Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy, Conservation of Wildlife and Marine
Species or biodiversity, and concrete actions taken by India on climate change
and biodiversity. “BRICS Countries being hotspots for biodiversity can
tell the world how we have been conserving such mega diversity since time
immemorial, and can also play a very significant role in combating the Covid-19
pandemic”, stated the Environment Minister.
In the Meeting, the Environment Ministers adopted the New
Delhi Statement on Environment, which is also aimed at furthering the spirit of
Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus in Environment among
the BRICS Nations. The key areas proposed in the BRICS Environment Ministers’
Statement, 2021 are guided by the issues, which may have primacy in COP 15 and
COP 26.