Environment Ministers of BRICS countries to meet in Goa

New Delhi, Sep 13 (PTI) Environment Ministers of BRICScountries will meet later this week in Goa to prioritiseactions for cooperation in critical areas, including air andwater pollution and climate change. The Environment ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, Chinaand South Africa (BRICS) will meet on September 16. "The meeting is expected to discuss MoU and the JointWorking Group on environment. The BRICS ministers are alsoexpected to discuss thematic areas of mutual interest andprioritise actions for cooperation in critical areas like airand water pollution, liquid and solid waste management,climate change and conservation of biodiversity. This meetingwill be preceded by discussions at official level," anofficial statement said. As minister of the host nation, Environment Minister AnilMadhav Dave will arrive in Goa tomorrow to participate in themeeting. The meeting assumes significance after the adoption oflandmark global environmental agreements like Addis AbabaAction Agenda on financing for development, SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement last year. During the Paris climate meet last year, more than 190nations had agreed on setting ambitious goals for cappingglobal warming and funneling trillions of dollars to poorcountries facing climate catastrophe. The pact will come into force after it is ratified by atleast 55 countries that account for 55 per cent of globalgreenhouse gas emissions. India has, however, made it clear that no decision toratify the Paris climate change agreement has been taken sofar as its domestic processes in this regard were stillunderway. The Environment Ministers’ meet in Goa is one in a seriesof meetings being organized by various central governmentministries in the run-up to BRICS Heads of States Summit inOctober 2016 at Goa after India assumed BRICS Presidency thisyear from Russia. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa comprisingBRICS block, together accounts for 41.6 per cent of globalpopulation, 29.31 per cent of total world’s territory andabout 22 per cent of world’s total GDP. These nations have rich biodiversity and natural capitaland the choices made by the BRICS nations have a globalsignificance, the statement added. PTI TDS AAR RGAAR