At the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting under India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, Shri Bhupender Yadav, along with Heads of Delegations of BRICS member countries, unveiled four knowledge Compendiums prepared by the BRICS Environment Working Group. The documents reflect leading practices, knowledge systems and innovations amongst the BRICS Member Countries.

These Compendiums are the outcome of constructive and meaningful deliberations undertaken in the BRICS Environment Working Group, culminating in the development of four collaborative knowledge products. Together, they embody the spirit of cooperation and reflect the national experiences, leading practices, innovative solutions, and local knowledge systems of BRICS Member Countries.

1. Compendium on National Experiences, Leading Practices & Success Stories on Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles compiled under India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), serves as a collective knowledge repository bringing together exemplary case studies from across BRICS Member Countries, including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, South Africa, and the UAE. The Compendium documents how BRICS Member Countries are translating the concept of sustainable lifestyles into practical action through policy innovation, behavioural change initiatives, environmental education, community participation, sustainable consumption and production, circular economy approaches, ecosystem restoration, clean energy transitions and green development programmes. India’s contributions include Mission LiFE, the Environment Education Programme, the SAMBHAV Campaign, reflecting its whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to citizen-led sustainable lifestyles. Together, they show how individual choices, market supply shifts, and policy frameworks converge to drive systemic transformation. Ultimately, by emphasizing citizen ownership, context-driven solutions, and digital integration, the compendium provides an actionable blueprint for peer learning, joint research, and multilateral cooperation to advance environment friendly lifestyles.
2. Compendium on Best Practices and Innovative Approaches for Integrated Fire Management: Globally, changing climate conditions, prolonged droughts and rising temperatures are increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires, putting ecosystems, biodiversity, livelihoods and communities at risk. Recognising this shared challenge, India, under its BRICS Chairship 2026, brought Integrated Wildfire Management to the forefront of international cooperation. The journey brought together countries to share experiences, innovative solutions and practical approaches from community-led prevention and indigenous knowledge to early warning systems, technology, preparedness and coordinated response for Integrated Wildfire Management.

One of the outcomes is the Compendium on “Best Practices and Innovative Approaches for Integrated Wildfire Management.” More than a collection of country experiences, the Compendium reflects a shared vision: from prevention to preparedness, from early warning to early action, and from response to recovery- we must manage fire together. By connecting knowledge, technology, institutions and communities, BRICS countries can strengthen collective resilience, protect forests and biodiversity, safeguard livelihoods, and build a more fire-resilient future.

3. Compendium on Integrated Landscape-Based Greening Approaches brings together experiences, good practices and policy approaches from BRICS Member Countries in addressing interconnected challenges of land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss and climate change. It reflects the collective contributions of Member Countries and highlights landscape-based interventions that integrate ecosystem restoration with biodiversity conservation.

The Compendium also identifies areas where BRICS cooperation can be strengthened, including knowledge and experience sharing, capacity building and technical cooperation, collaborative research, and the development of common approaches for monitoring and assessment. It represents a step towards strengthening cooperation while highlighting practical examples that can inform efforts to restore ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, improve livelihoods and contribute to global restoration and sustainable development objectives.

4. Compendium on Extended Producer Responsibility Frameworks and Leading Circular Economy Practices brings together experiences, policy approaches, regulatory instruments, and institutional models from BRICS Member Countries in addressing the transition towards a circular and resource-efficient economy. It highlights key initiatives ranging from community-led waste management and digital waste-exchange platforms to national circular economy roadmaps, digital traceability systems, recycling certifications, and comprehensive waste-sector reforms.

The Compendium showcases India’s transition towards a market-based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) architecture, supported by centralized digital platforms and framework expansions covering diverse waste streams. It also identifies key areas where BRICS cooperation can be strengthened, including knowledge and experience sharing, digital traceability solutions, technical capacity building, and the development of circular business models to advance resource-efficient, resilient, and sustainable economies.

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VM/GS