Over 40% of the world's population lives in the BRICS countries, with approximately 1.5 billion BRICS people living in urban agglomerations, prioritizing environmental sustainability as a top priority in their policies due to concerns about the negative impact of urbanization on the environment. Dependence on fossil fuels, both for energy production and imports, has led to a steady increase in greenhouse gas emissions over time in a situation of persisting climate change implications that affect the environment and economy in all the BRICS countries.  

As experts argue the average annual economic losses due to climate change range from 0.4 percent to 1.8 percent of Brazilian GDP until the end of the century. This is particularly due to the importance of climate vulnerable sectors, such as agriculture1. Sectors of the Russin Federation, including agriculture and forestry, water supply systems, buildings and engineering constructions, transportation infrastructure in the permafrost zones are obviously most vulnerable to climate change, with water becoming the most destructive consequence of global climate change for the south of Russia and neighboring regions2. 

Intensification of climate extremes is projected in India, with increased drought risk, and increases in the quantity of precipitation during heavy rainfall events destroying livelihoods across India. Without adaptation measures, extreme river floods are expected to affect an additional 13 to 34 million people by the 2040s3. While China has experienced more extreme events (floods, droughts, storms) in recent years than before with exposed to future climate change related risks across energy-, transport-, and manufacturing industries, agriculture, tourism, livelihoods and public health4. Similar climate change implications persist in South Africa, leading to food security at risk due to climate change sensitive sectors of agriculture and forestry5.  

In view of the above, a solution is seen in improving BRICS countries’ sustainability through fostering their deeper understanding of circular economy principles and unfolding “green” approaches with human beings centered as right-holders for clean, safe and prosperous environment to allowing cities to become Smart and Innovative. This in turn will foster a steady transition to a greener and more resilient growth model and inevitably promote the reform of economic policies and development of renewable energy as part of climate adaptation measures, and investment policies to attract investment in small and medium-scale businesses and international trade. Environmentally responsible practices will get crucial in that sense for a paradigm shift in the financial landscape, allowing to urgently align all facets of the financial system to move from one that passively manages risks to one that proactively considers impact of business activities in line with and the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.   

How to make this solution tailored to BRICS countries specificities? The answer is with the timely interventions based on knowledge sharing and untapping BRICS countries potential for cooperation and peer-to-peer learning. Associated challenges can be wisely managed by the BRICS cities by advancing collaboration in innovation, technology transfer and information/best practices sharing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, circular economy and ecosystem protection. By doing that, the strategic vision should incorporate system-level change in policy and governance, research methods, financial resources, people’s participation, public safety, public services, and environmental sustainability. South-to-south cooperation, therefore,  will ultimately help advance awareness on smart cities narrative and introduce potential instruments on the ground to increase countries potential and ownership for sustainable development with a focus on cities and human settlements.   

In view of the above BRICS countries consider next step in the way of their sustainability by utilizing the platform offered and facilitated by the OPN  Forum in reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation for the purpose of global economic growth based on social justice, environmental balance and resilience to climate change.  This is specifically true for achieving the 11th UN Sustainable Development Goal “Ensuring openness, security, resilience and environmental sustainability of cities and human settlements”. 

Museu do Amanhã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Auditoria: CR 100 MAR)  

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