BRICS Leaders Call for Climate Justice, Urge Rich Nations to Fund Emission Cuts in Global South

On the final day of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, leaders of the emerging economies bloc called on wealthy nations to take greater responsibility for financing the global fight against climate change. They emphasized that developed countries must fund efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the Global South.

In a strongly worded opening address, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, host of the upcoming UN climate summit in November, denounced climate denialism and unilateralism—remarks widely seen as a swipe at Donald Trump, who previously withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Paris Agreement.

“Denialism and unilateralism are eroding past achievements and harming our future,” Lula said. “The Global South is positioned to lead a new development paradigm without repeating the mistakes of the past.”

Trump Reacts with Tariff Threats

Trump, reacting to the implied criticism, accused BRICS of promoting “anti-American policies” and threatened an additional 10% tariff on member nations. BRICS leaders dismissed his remarks, reiterating their commitment to multilateral cooperation and shared global responsibility.

Fossil Fuel Dilemma Divides Bloc

While Lula called for a worldwide shift away from fossil fuels, the summit’s joint declaration acknowledged that petroleum would remain vital, especially for the energy needs of developing economies. The statement exposed internal differences within BRICS over how to balance economic growth with climate commitments.

“We live in a moment full of contradictions. The important thing is that we are willing to overcome them,” said Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva, when questioned about Brazil’s controversial plans to drill for oil off the Amazon coast.

Climate Finance and Forest Protection Take Center Stage

The BRICS leaders reiterated that climate finance is a duty of rich nations, aligning with long-standing demands from developing countries in climate negotiations.

The bloc also endorsed Brazil’s proposal to launch the Tropical Forests Forever Facility—a global fund aimed at protecting endangered forests. The initiative would help Global South nations go beyond the obligations laid out in the Paris Agreement. Sources said China and the UAE are among the countries expected to invest.

Backlash Against Western Environmental Trade Measures

The declaration also took aim at European climate policies, including carbon border taxes and anti-deforestation laws, calling them “discriminatory protectionist measures” disguised as environmental action.

As the Global South becomes increasingly vocal in shaping global climate policy, the BRICS summit showcased both its growing influence—and the challenge of uniting diverse economies behind a common climate agenda.