Honourable Shri Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Republic of India;
Honourable Ministers and Heads of Delegation from BRICS Member Countries;
Senior Officials;
Distinguished Delegates;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Good morning.

Allow me to express South Africa's sincere appreciation to the Government of the Republic of India for its leadership of BRICS during 2026 and for the warm hospitality extended to all delegations. We commend India for advancing a practical, forward-looking and people-centred environmental agenda under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." This theme resonates strongly with the aspirations of developing countries and reflects our shared commitment to building sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient societies.

As developing nations, BRICS countries possess a wealth of knowledge, innovation, experience and practical solutions that can contribute significantly to global efforts to address environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change. Through solidarity, cooperation and collective action, we are advancing sustainable development, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

South Africa also wishes to acknowledge the important achievements attained under Brazil's Presidency of BRICS in 2025. Under Brazil’s Presidency, BRICS successfully strengthened cooperation on climate finance, climate technology cooperation, climate adaptation, circular economy approaches, ecosystem restoration, plastic pollution and measures to address desertification, land degradation and drought.

The consolidation of the work of Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development has provided BRICS countries with an important platform to deepen cooperation on climate issues from a development perspective, while the Leaders' Framework Declaration on Climate Finance reinforced the importance of enhancing support for developing countries as they respond to the growing impacts of climate change.

Excellencies,

South Africa welcomes India's emphasis on advancing climate resilience through people-centred and community-led adaptation built on traditional knowledge. Across the Global South, communities continue to experience increasingly severe climate impacts, including droughts, floods, heatwaves, biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation and threats to livelihoods. Addressing these challenges requires approaches that place people at the centre of adaptation action, while recognising the value of local knowledge, indigenous practices and community innovation.

South Africa firmly believes that traditional knowledge systems and scientific knowledge are complementary and mutually reinforcing. Indigenous and local communities have developed adaptation practices over generations that continue to provide practical solutions for managing climate risks, conserving biodiversity, restoring ecosystems and strengthening livelihoods. We therefore support the proposed BRICS Principles for the Adoption of Traditional Knowledge for Climate Change Adaptation and the establishment of a BRICS Dialogue on People-Centred Community-Led Adaptation as important mechanisms for advancing cooperation among our countries.

In this regard, South Africa is pleased to have contributed two flagship community-based adaptation initiatives to the BRICS compendium on traditional knowledge and community-based adaptation. These include the Working for Water and Working for Ecosystems Programme, which supports ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, invasive species management, water security and sustainable livelihood creation.

South Africa has also submitted its Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, which demonstrates how ecosystem restoration can reduce the impacts of climate-related disasters while strengthening resilience in vulnerable communities. These initiatives illustrate the important contribution of ecosystem-based adaptation and community-driven solutions in addressing climate risks while simultaneously advancing sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

Excellencies,

South Africa further acknowledges the importance of focusing on promoting sustainable lifestyles. Achieving sustainable development requires not only policy and technological interventions, but also behavioural change and the adoption of sustainable consumption and production patterns. We support initiatives that encourage environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, environmental education, youth participation and sustainable lifestyles as key contributors to environmental sustainability and climate action.

We also welcome the priority on afforestation, landscape restoration, forest fire management and disaster resilience. These are issues of growing importance to many BRICS countries, particularly in the context of mitigating the impacts of climate change and building climate resilience.

South Africa has adopted integrated landscape-based approaches that contribute to restoring degraded ecosystems, improving biodiversity outcomes, enhancing carbon sequestration, strengthening water security and supporting sustainable livelihoods. We equally recognise the importance of strengthening cooperation on early warning systems, fire risk management, preparedness and response measures as climate variability continues to increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires globally.

South Africa similarly supports the continued work on resource efficiency and circular economy approaches, particularly through the exchange of experiences on Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks. A circular economy offers significant opportunities to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, create jobs and support sustainable economic growth. We therefore welcome the preparation of technical knowledge products that will assist BRICS countries in advancing circular economy policies and practices.

Excellencies,

As we consider the outcomes of this meeting, South Africa reiterates the importance of strengthening South-South cooperation, capacity building, technology cooperation and enhanced financial support for adaptation and resilience-building in developing countries. We must continue working together to ensure that environmental sustainability, climate resilience and inclusive socio-economic development are advanced in a mutually supportive and coherent manner, while recognising the different national circumstances and development priorities of our countries.

South Africa supports the adoption of the BRICS Environment Ministers Joint Ministerial Statement and welcomes the launch of the various knowledge products and technical papers developed under India's Presidency. We are confident that these outcomes will strengthen environmental cooperation among BRICS countries and contribute to a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future for all.

I thank you.