Climate Change and Sustainable Development

This chapter examines the evolution of the BRICS’ collective role in global climate governance from the 2009 Copenhagen Summit (COP15) to the 2025 COP30 in Belém, Brazil, highlighting the group’s growing coordination and influence in multilateral climate diplomacy. Originally conceived as an economic alliance, the BRICS have progressively expanded their agenda to encompass sustainability and environmental governance. Amid the erosion of Western-led climate leadership, particularly following the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the contested credibility of the EU’s Green Deal, the BRICS have sought to articulate an alternative vision grounded in multipolarity, equity, and developmental justice. While internal divergences persist—especially regarding energy dependence, economic structures, and policy priorities—the bloc’s environmental cooperation has deepened over time. Key milestones include the formation of the BASIC coalition in 2009, the establishment of the BRICS Working Group on Environmental Issues in 2015, and the New Development Bank’s financing of green infrastructure and climate adaptation projects. The chapter argues that, despite asymmetries among members, BRICS climate diplomacy has evolved from fragmented responses to a more coordinated stance emphasizing the principles of “Common But Differentiated Responsibilities” and national sovereignty. China’s concept of ecological civilization, India’s advocacy for a “just transition,” Brazil’s renewed environmental leadership under President Lula, Russia’s focus on low-emission technologies, and South Africa’s Pan-African approach to climate justice collectively reflect diverse pathways toward sustainability. The recent expansion into BRICS Plus—with the inclusion of countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates—adds both complexity and opportunity, reinforcing the bloc’s demographic and geopolitical weight while posing new challenges for policy coherence. By engaging in cross-regional cooperation, particularly with Africa, BRICS Plus aspires to promote more inclusive governance mechanisms that challenge the perceived neo-colonial tendencies of Western climate initiatives. Furthemore, this chapter contends that the BRICS are transitioning from peripheral participants to central architects of an emerging plural climate order. Their ability to harmonize internal strategies, institutionalize cooperation, and operationalize sustainable development frameworks will determine whether they can transform climate governance into a truly multipolar and equitable enterprise. Ultimately, the chapter provides an overview of how the BRICS group’s stance on climate change has evolved from 2009 to 2025.