BRICS ministers reaffirm commitment to Paris Agreement

“We reaffirm our commitments to the Paris Agreement and urge developed countries to continue taking the lead and support developing countries, including the transfer of needed technology, which is one of the most critical enablers for climate action,” the ministers said in a joint statement.

The ministers and their representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa met in KwaZulu-Natal for the fourth BRICS Ministers of Environment Meeting, which ended on Friday, 18 May.

They welcomed the progress towards finalising the Work Programme under the Paris Agreement and expressed their willingness to continue working constructively with other parties to conclude its related negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) Katowice in December 2018.

Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance starting in the year 2020.

The group also committed to enhancing cooperation and collaboration amongst BRICS countries in the field of biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and equitable access and benefit sharing of biological resources.

Furthermore, they pledged to continue to collaborate to ensure the success of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP14) to be held in Egypt in November 2018, and 70th meeting of the Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Standing Committee in Russia in October 2018.

BEST platform

The ministers acknowledged the progress in the establishment of the BRICS Environmentally Sound Technology (BEST) Cooperation Platform which is intended to be practical and results orientated, which would include partners, science and international organisations, civil society, the private sector and financial institutions, including the New Development Bank (NDB).

“We will use this BEST platform as a coordinating mechanism for the implementation of agreed-upon projects and programmes under the BRICS Environment Memorandum of Understanding,” reads the statement.

“We welcome the promotion of cooperation within BRICS in the area of waste management and pollution prevention as well as the cooperation and collaboration in advancing the oceans economy amongst BRICS countries, which encompasses multiple sectors.”

With regards to water security, the ministers vowed to enhance cooperation and in improving national water infrastructure to secure and manage natural water sources.

Brazil will host the next BRICS environment ministers meeting in 2019.