Tehran – Sheena Ansari, Head of the Ministry of the Environment, represents the country of the 11th BRICS Environmental Working Group (EWG) Conference in Brazil.
“Moving environmental cooperation between BRICS towards sustainable development and a fair transition for everything” is the theme of the two-day event.
Founded in 2015, BRICS EWG serves as a platform for BRICS member countries to address basic environmental challenges and promote collaboration through dialogue, shared experiences, and exchange of information and best practices.
The EWG convenes annually within the framework of the BRICS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Environmental Cooperation, signed in 2018 by the BRICS Minister of the Environment of Johannesburg, South Africa.
The MOU identifies key priority areas for collaboration, including air quality, water, biodiversity, climate change, waste management and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Participant mutual agreement may include additional areas.
The 2023-2027 implementation plan was developed to translate EWG commitments into practical results. The plan provides a structured roadmap to enhance environmental coordination and cooperation between member states, and supports compliance with national and international environmental practices.
The EWG plays a pivotal role in this process and oversees the effective implementation of the MOU. As the current chair, Brazil aims to strengthen implementation of this program to promote action-oriented cooperation.
In 2024, EWG launched a contact group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development (BRICS+ CGCCSD) and launched a high-level dialogue on climate change.
On the sidelines of the conference, Ansari visited successful environmental projects for the local community in Brasilia and praised the role of Indigenous communities in environmental protection.