BRICS nations - comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - are joining forces for continuous collaborations in the face of deteriorating climate changes and the ongoing pandemic challenges.

Bhupender Yadav, India's Union Minister for Environment, said BRICS countries can play a very significant role in addressing the contemporary global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, air pollution and marine plastic litter, at the 7th BRICS Environment Ministerial Meet 2021.

"BRICS countries being the hotspots for biodiversity can tell the world how we have been conserving such mega diversity since time immemorial," the minister was quoted saying by Indian media.

In August, space agencies of BRICS countries signed an agreement on sharing remote sensing satellite data to help cope with climate changes and major disasters and in environmental protection.

The agreement enables BRICS space agencies to jointly build a "virtual constellation of remote sensing satellites," which works as a data sharing mechanism, according to China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The satellites include CBERS-4, jointly developed by Brazil and China, Russia's Kanopus-V type, India's Resourcesat-2 and 2A, as well as China's Gaofen-6, and Ziyuan III 02. Ground stations located in Cuiaba of Brazil, Moscow Region of Russia, Shadnagar–Hyderabad of India, Sanya of China and Hartebeesthoek of South Africa will receive data from the said satellites.

At the end of August, the five countries also jointly released the "New Delhi Statement on Environment" at the 7th BRICS Environment Ministerial Meet 2021, uniting the nations in taking concrete collective actions on climate change, ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November and UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) this October.

At the conference, India also shared its own renewable energy target and plans in fields such as renewable energy, sustainable habitats, creating carbon sinks, transition to sustainable transport, etc.

As one of the BRICS countries, China has also set up its goal to act on climate challenges. In December last year, China pledged to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

Six BRICS Environment Ministerial meets have been held so far as a slew of initiatives - such as cooperation on clean rivers, sustainable cities, environmentally friendly technologies, biodiversity and waste management - have already been launched to improve the environment.