Rio de Janeiro: At the 17th BRICS Summit hosted by Brazil, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a compelling session on “Environment, COP‑30, and Global Health,” emphasizing the urgent need for a global shift toward sustainability and equitable healthcare. Framing the discussion around the theme “One Earth, One Health,” Modi called climate justice a moral duty, not merely an economic choice, underscoring India’s deep-rooted reverence for nature. He spotlighted India’s green initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, Mission LiFE, and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, while proudly noting India’s 4,000% surge in solar power capacity and its ahead-of-schedule Paris Agreement compliance.
Modi urged wealthy nations to support developing countries through technology transfer and affordable climate finance, endorsing the newly adopted Framework Declaration on Climate Finance. On health, he highlighted India’s achievements in universal healthcare through Ayushman Bharat, digital health innovations, and the BRICS Vaccine R&D Centre. As India prepares to chair BRICS in 2026, Modi proposed rebranding the bloc as “Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability”, rooted in a “Humanity First” vision with a focus on the Global South. His speech positioned BRICS as a vital platform for tackling global challenges through unity, responsibility, and sustainable action.
