The BRICS Scientific and Educational Congress on Ecology and Climate Change, held on October 20-21 in Sirius, Russia, gathered more than 400 experts from countries including Russia, India, Brazil, Iran, and Ethiopia. The event aimed to strengthen collaboration on climate policy among BRICS nations, with a call for a unified approach to challenge the prevailing influence of Western countries in global climate negotiations.
Sergey Kononuchenko, Russia’s Special Envoy for Climate Issues, advocated for BRICS countries to consolidate their climate policies and present a united front at international forums like the Conference of the Parties (COP) for the Paris Agreement. He noted that while Russia and other BRICS members previously held divergent positions at the UN Climate Change Conference, the time had come for a comprehensive and consistent climate stance to be adopted.
“The situation has changed now, and I believe it’s time for negotiators, as well as the broader scientific and educational community, to consider forming a truly comprehensive and consistent position on at least some of the climate issues,” Kononuchenko said during his address at the Congress.
The Russian diplomat pointed out that many international forums promote the need to alter humanity’s socio-economic development paradigm, yet he underscored the importance of critical analysis. “If we approach this issue seriously and analytically, it becomes clear that the trends in this area are primarily set by Western countries,” he observed. He suggested that BRICS nations should unite through scientific and business collaboration to develop a consistent climate policy that reflects their collective interests.
Kononuchenko’s remarks come at a pivotal moment for BRICS, with the bloc expanding to include new members and strengthening its role in international climate discussions. A unified climate strategy would enable the BRICS countries to advocate more effectively for fair and balanced policies in global climate agreements.
