Environment ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) have called for stronger international cooperation on energy access, resource conservation, clean technologies, concessional finance and technology transfer. At the same time, India’s energy storage industry has urged BRICS members, including Brazil, Russia and the UAE, to deepen collaboration on energy storage, critical minerals and clean-energy supply chains. The developments come as India seeks to expand renewable energy and energy storage while reducing its dependence on imported minerals and components required for clean-energy technologies.
BRICS Environment Ministers Adopt Joint Statement
The 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting, held under India’s chairship in New Delhi on August 18, 2026, adopted a joint statement covering four key areas: sustainable lifestyles, forest and land management, the circular economy, and climate adaptation. The ministers emphasised stronger international cooperation, technology transfer, knowledge sharing and capacity building, while recognising the different national priorities and circumstances of BRICS members. They also highlighted the need to improve access to climate finance, particularly concessional finance for developing countries, alongside greater support for technology development and transfer.
India’s Energy Storage Industry Seeks Deeper BRICS Collaboration
The India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) submitted recommendations to the Indian government following a virtual event organised by the Union Ministry of Power, where the alliance provided technical coordination. IESA’s recommendations focused on advanced energy storage technologies, resilient clean-energy supply chains, critical mineral security, harmonised technical standards and Joint energy storage demonstration projects. Debmalya Sen, President of IESA, said energy storage has become essential for grid flexibility and resilience as renewable energy integration increases. He also stressed that no single storage technology can address every system requirement. Therefore, stronger BRICS collaboration across manufacturing, technology, innovation and supply chains could help build more resilient energy systems.
Energy Storage Pipeline Crosses 100 GW in India
India is rapidly expanding its renewable energy and energy storage infrastructure. According to IESA, the country’s energy storage project pipeline has crossed 100 GW, with approximately 10 GW already commissioned. However, India continues to rely heavily on imports for several critical minerals and components. During the virtual event, a government official highlighted the need to expand production-linked incentive support for battery recycling and advanced energy chemistries. The official also called for dedicated support for stationary energy storage applications. Consequently, strengthening domestic manufacturing and securing reliable international supply chains have become increasingly important for India’s clean-energy transition.
Critical Minerals Emerge as a Key Area for BRICS Cooperation
Critical minerals are becoming increasingly important as battery manufacturing, renewable energy and electric mobility expand. IESA identified Brazil’s mineral resources and processing capabilities as potential areas for deeper cooperation. José Jesus Lima Neto, Infrastructure Analyst at Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, noted that clean-energy technologies require significantly more mineral resources than conventional energy systems. He also highlighted the importance of secure upstream supplies and midstream processing for expanding battery manufacturing. IESA further noted that Brazil’s upcoming capacity reserve auction for battery projects, which includes national content requirements, could support the development of local battery supply chains.
BRICS Explores Joint Energy Storage Projects
IESA has recommended several measures to strengthen cooperation among BRICS countries. These include mutual recognition of test reports, harmonised measurement protocols and coordinated pilot projects for distributed energy storage. Shuvendu Kumar Bose, Energy Expert at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, highlighted the changing challenges facing renewable energy systems. According to him, transmission economics are becoming increasingly important alongside renewable energy variability. He noted that co-locating energy storage with renewable generation can improve dispatchability, reduce system costs and help manage electricity tariffs. However, this approach also requires appropriate regulatory frameworks covering tariffs and cost allocation. Yuri Vlasov, Founder and CEO of Watts Battery, Russia, highlighted the role of distributed storage in improving local network reliability. He noted that building-level energy storage can address local network constraints more quickly and cost-effectively than conventional grid reinforcement. He also called for harmonised standards and joint demonstration projects.
Long-Duration Storage Gains Attention
Experts from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Brazil’s Electric Sector Studies Group (GESEL/UFRJ) also discussed opportunities for long-duration energy storage. Participants from the UAE and Russia, meanwhile, highlighted the need for supportive regulations and standardised techno-economic assessments. Together, these discussions point towards greater cooperation on storage technologies that can support grid stability as renewable energy penetration increases.
BRICS Calls for Greater Climate Adaptation Finance
Beyond energy storage and critical minerals, BRICS environment ministers called for a substantial increase in international support for climate adaptation. The ministers sought new, additional, predictable and accessible financial support, along with technology transfer and capacity building. They emphasised that adaptation finance should be grant-based and concessional, particularly for developing countries, and should not increase their financial vulnerabilities. The statement also urged developed countries to fulfil the COP30 decision to triple adaptation finance for developing countries by 2035 while improving the quality and accessibility of such funding.
BRICS Opposes Unilateral Carbon Border Measures
The ministers also opposed what they described as unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist measures that are inconsistent with international law. In particular, they raised concerns over carbon border adjustment mechanisms, arguing that such measures could undermine developing countries’ efforts to address climate change and strengthen adaptation and resilience. The statement reaffirmed the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. It also emphasised nationally determined just transitions and the need to maintain a balance between climate mitigation and adaptation.
Sustainable Lifestyles and Circular Economy Remain Priorities
The BRICS meeting identified four priority areas for environmental cooperation – sustainable lifestyles, afforestation, forest fire management and disaster resilience, circular economy and people-centric and community-based climate adaptation. The members welcomed the possibility of holding a BRICS Sustainable Lifestyle Week during the first week of November 2026 on a voluntary and non-binding basis. They also supported the creation of a Network of BRICS Institutions to Advance Knowledge Sharing, Research and Innovation in Sustainable Lifestyles.
Circular Economy and Recycling Gain Momentum
The ministers also called for a faster transition away from the traditional “take, make and dispose” model towards a circular economy. They highlighted the need for stronger waste management systems, extended producer responsibility, eco-design, sustainable public procurement and greater investment in recycling and resource recovery infrastructure. The ministers invited international financial institutions, including the New Development Bank, to support developing countries in building circular economy infrastructure.
BRICS Sets Agenda for Future Environmental Cooperation
The ministers reaffirmed cooperation through existing initiatives, including the BRICS Environmentally Sound Technology Platform, BRICS Clean Rivers and the BRICS Partnership for Urban Environmental Sustainability. The meeting highlighted the growing connection between energy storage, critical minerals, climate finance, circular economy and sustainable development. For India, stronger BRICS cooperation could help diversify critical mineral supply chains, accelerate energy storage deployment and support domestic clean-energy manufacturing. At the same time, greater collaboration on climate finance, technology and adaptation could strengthen the resilience of developing economies. As reported by downtoearth.org.in, China will host the 13th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in 2027, providing the next platform to advance these initiatives.
