Venue and Date

The meeting took place on May 18, 2018, in Zimbali, a coastal resort town north of Durban, South Africa.

Participants

• Brazil: Edson Duarte, Acting Minister of Environment
• Russia: Sergey Yefimovich Donskoy, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment
• India: Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• China: Li Ganjie, Minister of Ecology and Environment
• South Africa: Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs (host)

Key Discussions and Outcomes

Theme and Focus

The central theme was “Strengthening cooperation amongst BRICS on Circular Economy in the context of the Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP)”. This theme aligned with global efforts to promote sustainable development and resource efficiency.

Major Topics Addressed

1. Climate Change:
   • Reaffirmation of commitment to the Paris Agreement
   • Discussion on the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
2. Biodiversity Conservation:
   • Strategies for protecting and sustainably using biological resources
   • Preparation for the upcoming Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity
3. Waste Management:
   • Sharing best practices in solid waste management
   • Exploring opportunities for cooperation in recycling and waste-to-energy technologies
4. Water Resources:
   • Addressing water security challenges
   • Cooperation on flood protection and water sanitation projects
5. Marine Protection:
   • Discussing strategies to combat marine pollution, particularly plastic waste
   • Exploring joint initiatives for sustainable ocean governance

Key Initiatives and Agreements

1. BRICS Environmentally Sound Technology (BEST) Cooperation Platform:
   • Progress review on the establishment of this platform
   • Discussion on potential areas for technology exchange and collaboration
2. Clean Rivers Umbrella Programme:
   • Update on ongoing projects under this initiative
   • Exploring expansion to include more rivers across BRICS nations
3. Partnership for Urban Environmental Sustainability Initiative:
   • Sharing experiences on sustainable urban development
   • Identifying areas for knowledge exchange and capacity building
4. Circular Economy:
   • Agreement to promote circular economy principles within BRICS countries
   • Exploring potential joint research and development projects

Significance and Future Directions

The meeting was significant in reinforcing BRICS countries’ commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development. It provided a platform for these major emerging economies to align their environmental policies and explore areas of cooperation.

Future Plans

• Brazil’s offer to host the 5th BRICS Environment Ministers Meeting in 2019 was welcomed
• Agreement to continue strengthening cooperation in environmental protection and climate change mitigation
• Commitment to play a leadership role in global environmental governance

The 4th BRICS Environment Ministers Meeting in South Africa marked an important step in enhancing environmental cooperation among these influential nations. By focusing on circular economy and sustainable consumption and production, the meeting set the stage for more concrete actions and collaborations in addressing global environmental challenges.