Series launched by think tank explores BRICS' climate ambition
The BRICS Policy Center (BPC), which launched the ‘’Handbook for Understanding the BRICS’’, concludes the series of publications on the climate ambitions of the five countries that founded the group
By Franciéli Barcellos de Moraes | francieli.moraes@presidencia.gov.br
The issues of sustainability and climate change are becoming increasingly relevant on the international political agenda. The BRICS has made this debate a priority, and studies by the BRICS Policy Center (BPC) highlight this commitment. The research center launched the latest installment of the 'BRICS Climate Ambition' series, which, for the first time, breaks down the initiatives and positions of the countries represented by the acronym. The latest issue focuses on the climate ambition of China, the world’s second-largest economy.
"Brasil is the third-largest country in the world in terms of renewable energy generation capacity, with 49.1% of its energy coming from renewable sources, while the global average of renewable energy supply is only 14.7%."
"The climate agenda and energy transition are among the priorities of Brasil's presidency of the BRICS. The financing of mitigation and adaptation projects, as well as the alignment of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), will be central topics of Brasil's agenda, in line with efforts to strengthen COP30," stated Marta Fernández, director of the BRICS Policy Center.
The study on Brasil’s climate ambition, which acknowledges the historical, symbolic, and material importance of the country in environmental and climate governance, highlights both the power of Indigenous peoples, quilombolas, and traditional communities in finding solutions, as well as the national capacity for alternative energy sources. "Brasil is the third-largest country in the world in terms of renewable energy generation capacity, with 49.1% of its energy coming from renewable sources, while the global average of renewable energy supply is only 14.7%," the study notes.
Founded in 2010, the think tank is linked to the Institute of International Relations at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (Instituto de Relações Internacionais da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro /IRI-PUC-Rio) and, in partnership with the city of Rio de Janeiro, is dedicated to analyzing global transformations and their implications for Brasil and the Global South, as well as actions that bring international politics closer to people's everyday lives and cities. Having closely followed the group since its inception, the BPC has a robust schedule of activities for this year, including debates, webinars, and other publications, with Brasil hosting around one hundred meetings leading up to the Summit.
The “BRICS Climate Ambition” series, published in both Portuguese and English, is produced by the BPC's Social and Environmental Platform, with support from the Climate and Society Institute (Instituto Clima e Sociedade /ICS).
Handbook for Understanding the BRICS
Late last year, the research center launched the “Handbook for Understanding the BRICS,” a publication aimed at democratizing knowledge on international politics to other researchers, journalists, governments, social movements, and anyone interested in the topic.
"In addition to analyzing the BRICS and its trajectory, the Handbook explores its interconnection with other multilateral platforms, such as the G20. While highlighting the uniqueness of the BRICS and its strategic role for the Global South, it also recognizes that discussions within the G20, especially under Brasil's presidency, resonate within the BRICS, reinforcing Brasil as a central actor in shaping an agenda focused on addressing global asymmetries," said the director of the BPC.
The Handbook, which was launched in the presence of the general coordinator of Brasil's BRICS Presidency, Itamaraty Minister Paula Barboza, is a continuation of the series that began with the “Handbook to Understand the G20”, and precedes the “Handbook to Understand COP30”, which will be released soon. According to Fernández, the handbook will have a second edition, with updates on member and partner countries and the Brazilian priorities for the group.
Think tanks in the BRICS
Think tanks are key institutions for the BRICS, integrating platforms such as the BRICS Academic Forum (BAF), the BRICS Think Tanks Network for Finance (BTTNF), and the BRICS Think Tanks Council (BTTC), the latter of which the BRICS Policy Center is a partner. The coordination of the Council during Brasil's Presidency is led by the Institute of Applied Economic Research (Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada /IPEA), which assumed the BTTC last month in a meeting that included representatives from Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Iran. The goal is to exchange experiences to develop recommendations on public policies and future scenarios.