Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised the BRICS bloc for giving top priority to crucial global issues such as environmental protection and health security, calling them vital for the ‘bright future of humanity’.
He was speaking at the BRICS session on Environment, COP-30, and Global Health in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
PM Modi welcomed the timely focus on environmental matters, especially with COP-30 being hosted in Brazil this year.
“Climate change and environmental safety have always been among India’s top priorities. For us, it’s not just about energy; it’s about maintaining balance between life and nature,” he stated.
Highlighting India’s cultural ethos, PM Modi reminded delegates that in Indian tradition, the Earth is revered as a mother. “When Mother Earth needs us, we must respond,” he said.
He underscored that for India, climate justice is a moral obligation, not merely an option.
Guided by the mantra of ‘People, Planet, and Progress’, he outlined several major Indian initiatives, including Mission LiFE, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, the International Solar Alliance, and the Green Hydrogen Mission.
He also mentioned India’s leadership in launching the Global Biofuels Alliance and the Big Cats Alliance.
Reflecting on India’s G20 Presidency, the Prime Minister pointed out the consensus achieved on the Green Development Pact and the launch of the Green Credits Initiative to promote eco-conscious actions.
Despite being one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India, he said, met its Paris Climate Agreement targets ahead of schedule and is advancing steadily toward achieving Net Zero by 2070.
In the health sector, PM Modi highlighted India’s efforts under ‘One Earth, One Health’, including the world’s largest health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, and the growing use of digital health services across rural regions.
He also expressed India’s readiness to share best practices in Ayurveda, Yoga, and other traditional systems.
PM Modi commended the launch of the BRICS Vaccine R&D Centre and supported the BRICS Declaration on Climate Finance and Health Cooperation.
He stressed that shared global problems like pandemics require collective responses, not passport-based solutions.
Concluding his remarks, PM Modi said that under India’s upcoming BRICS Presidency, the country would focus on redefining BRICS as ‘Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability’ with a people-first, inclusive approach, particularly championing the voices of the Global South.
He congratulated Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for hosting a successful summit and thanked all participating leaders for their contributions.
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