12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting Convenes in New Delhi Under India's Chairship

India hosted the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on August 18, 2026, chaired by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, under the overarching 2026 Chairship theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.' The Ministers' Meeting was preceded on August 17 by the Senior Officers' Meeting of the BRICS Environment Working Group and the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, with senior officials from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the UAE. India's chairship steered cooperation toward four priority areas: sustainable lifestyles; afforestation, forest fire management and disaster resilience; circular economy; and climate adaptation. Yadav said India's Chairship reflects Prime Minister Modi's vision of placing the Global South at the forefront, guided by a people-centric, 'Humanity First' approach.