Explainer: BRICS' role in global fight against climate change

The upcoming 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, represents a significant opportunity for the BRICS nations to address various global challenges, including climate change. 

This year's event is particularly important because it marks the first gathering since the group's expansion to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the original group of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

According to a joint statement issued at the BRICS High-level Meeting on Climate Change in 2022, BRICS countries have played an active role in the multilateral process on climate change and contributed greatly to global low-carbon, climate resilient and sustainable development.

Before the summit starts, let's review the role of BRICS nations in the global fight against climate change.

National emission goals

China has announced the goal of peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060.

By 2021, China's energy consumption intensity per unit of GDP was 26.2 percent lower than that in 2012 and the installed capacity of renewable energy had exceeded 1 billion kilowatts. 

Moreover, a quarter of the global net increase in green leaf area comes from China, according to the joint statement.

China is also actively promoting the construction of a national carbon market, stepping up support for other developing countries in green and low-carbon development.

In addition, the country has pledged not to build new coal-fired power projects abroad.

Meanwhile, Brazil has also announced a series of targets, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 based on 2005 levels, reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and eradicating illegal deforestation by 2028. The Latin American country also joined the Global Pact on Methane and announced the creation of the National Program for the Reduction of Methane Emissions – Zero Methane.

At the same time, Russia has announced its goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Data shows that 45 percent of Russia's energy balance is already stemming from low-emission energy sources, including nuclear power generation. The country is also creating the infrastructure for the production of hydrogen to be used as raw material and energy carrier.

India's emissions intensity of GDP has already shrunk by 24 percent over 2005 levels, indicating the progressive decoupling of emissions from economic growth. It has also announced its climate commitments, which include having 50 percent of installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, reducing carbon intensity of the economy by 45 percent by 2030 and achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2070. In addition, the country's forest coverage is steadily increasing and 24.62 percent of its geographic area is under forest and tree cover. It has also added 23 wetlands as Ramsar wetland sites in the last three years and now has the largest network of Ramsar sites in South Asia.

South Africa has established a presidential climate commission, adopted a national adaptation strategy, implemented an enhanced mitigation system with robust monitoring and evaluation, and developed a long-term low emissions development strategy.

Impact of membership expansion

The Institute for Security Studies, an independent research institute headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa, indicated in an article in August 2023 that BRICS could be the catalyst for a new global alliance to power solutions to the world's climate crisis.

The group, accounting for half the world's population and nearly 30 percent of the world's total geographical area, is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of a warming planet.

In a study published in the Nature journal in June, scientists predicted ongoing global climate change to trigger adverse events affecting about 143 million people in the Global South by 2050, leading to various forms of migration and mobility.

However, the appeal of the developing world has long been ignored.

According to Xinhua News Agency, BRICS' membership expansion would mean a bigger say in the international arena.

The Observer Research Foundation, an independent think tank based in Delhi, India, also published an article saying that a larger BRICS is better poised to address global challenges collectively, including climate change.

After the group's membership grew from five to 10 in January this year, Malaysia and Thailand announced their intention to join the group in June. So far, more than 30 countries have expressed interest and 10 have filed official applications to join BRICS, according to reports.

(Cover: A board indicates the venue and dates of the 16th BRICS Summit. /CFP)