India's BRICS presidency will have humanity first approach: PM Modi

Developed nations have a special responsibility in bridging the gap between climate ambition and financing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, noting that India's BRICS presidency next year will have a "humanity first" approach. In an address at the BRICS summit, PM Modi said India will work to redefine BRICS in a new form which will be "Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability'. "Just as, during our chairmanship, we gave breadth to the G-20, gave priority to the issues of the Global South in the agenda, similarly, during our chairmanship of BRICS, we will take this forum forward in the spirit of people-centricity and humanity first," he said. Modi was speaking at a session on 'Environment, COP-30 and Global Health'.

"For India, climate justice is not an option, but a moral duty. India believes that without technology transfer and affordable financing to countries in need, climate action will remain confined to climate talks," he said. Modi argued that developed countries have a special and important responsibility in bridging the gap between climate ambition and financing. "We have to take along all those countries which are facing food, fuel, fertilizer and financial crises due to various stresses." Modi said India will continue to cooperate closely on all subjects under its BRICS presidency.

In his remarks, the prime minister also elaborated on New Delhi's approach towards dealing with climate change. "Despite being the fastest growing major economy in the world, India is the first country to complete Paris Commitments ahead of time. We are also moving rapidly towards the goal of Net Zero by 2070," he said. "In the last 10 years, the installed capacity of solar energy in India has increased by 4,000 per cent." For India, climate change and environmental security have always been high-priority topics, Modi noted.