Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, September 13, called for a development model that advances human well-being without compromising the environment while addressing the second day of the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Speaking to leaders of the expanded BRICS grouping, Modi said development and environmental protection are “not alternatives but complementary”, drawing on the Indian civilisational view that “nature is revered as a mother”. He said such a balance is essential for sustainability and represents a responsibility towards future generations.
The discussion comes as BRICS countries seek practical cooperation on climate resilience, clean energy and sustainable agriculture. During India’s BRICS chairship, member states have backed initiatives including a Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage, a network of Centres of Excellence on Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture, and cooperation on community-based climate adaptation.
The summit’s broader outcomes also emphasise resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, with the grouping seeking to turn shared environmental concerns into practical projects.
Greener Growth Model
Modi’s remarks placed sustainability at the centre of the development debate, arguing that economic progress and environmental protection should not be treated as competing priorities. His reference to nature as a mother reflects an approach India has repeatedly highlighted in international climate discussions, linking environmental responsibility with cultural traditions and everyday life.
The Prime Minister has previously framed this philosophy through initiatives such as Mission LiFE, the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Green Hydrogen Mission. At the BRICS Summit, this broader philosophy was matched by practical cooperation.
One major initiative is the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage, designed as a voluntary platform for knowledge-sharing, capacity building, policy exchanges and pilot projects among member countries. The BRICS Guiding Principles on Smart Grids and Energy Storage also recognise the importance of digitally enabled electricity systems capable of integrating renewable energy and improving reliability.
Climate Action Measures
Agriculture and climate resilience have also emerged as important areas of cooperation under India’s BRICS chairship. The New Delhi Declaration welcomed the establishment of a BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture, alongside a separate network on Digital Agriculture covering areas such as agroforestry, fisheries and aquaculture.
The grouping also welcomed a Global Forum on Farmers’ Rights in Seed Systems, intended to encourage the exchange of traditional knowledge and improve policy responses to challenges affecting farmers and food systems. These measures build on discussions among BRICS agriculture ministers, who have focused on strengthening productivity while making farming systems more resilient to climate pressures. India’s Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has similarly stressed the need to build resilience without leaving communities behind and to place sustainability at the centre of development.
Earlier this year, BRICS energy ministers also launched the Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage, signalling an effort to connect technological innovation with the transition towards cleaner and more resilient energy systems.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The message that development and environmental protection must work together is increasingly important in a world facing climate change, extreme weather, food insecurity and growing pressure on natural resources. Economic growth can improve lives, create jobs and reduce poverty, but development that damages ecosystems or leaves vulnerable communities bearing the greatest environmental costs cannot be considered truly sustainable.
At the same time, climate action must recognise the developmental needs of countries across the Global South and avoid placing disproportionate burdens on communities that have contributed least to historical emissions.
BRICS can play a meaningful role if its declarations translate into affordable technologies, resilient infrastructure, sustainable farming practices and stronger community participation on the ground. The emphasis on combining modern science with traditional and indigenous knowledge is particularly valuable because environmental solutions need to work with local realities rather than simply being imposed from above.
Ultimately, sustainability is not only about protecting nature; it is about creating a future in which people and the planet can thrive together. Can development and environmental protection genuinely move forward together, and what should governments prioritise to make that balance a reality?
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भारतीय सभ्यता में प्रकृति को मां का दर्जा दिया गया है। सदियों से हमारी मान्यता रही है कि विकास और पर्यावरण एक-दूसरे के विकल्प नहीं, बल्कि पूरक हैं।#BRICS में भी हमने मानव विकास और पर्यावरण के बीच संतुलन पर बल दिया है। यही sustainability का आधार है और भावी पीढ़ी के प्रति हमारा… pic.twitter.com/IXPQme6qV7
— BJP (@BJP4India) September 13, 2026
