BRICS mid-term conference on green devpt & biodiversity held at Doon Univ

Dehradun: The International BRICS Mid-Term Academic Conference commenced at Doon University on Friday, bringing together academic and diplomatic delegates from 11 nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Iran and Ethiopia.

The theme of the conference, “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainable Development,” mirrors the core vision of India’s 2026 BRICS Presidency. Given Uttarakhand’s position as a Himalayan state, discussions heavily focused on climate resilience, sustainability and ecological solutions.

In her welcome address, Doon University vice-chancellor Prof Surekha Dangwal emphasized that BRICS is far more than a diplomatic forum. “It is a platform for rethinking development from the perspective of countries still building, still transforming and still balancing growth with justice,” Dangwal said. “India’s BRICS Presidency 2026 comes at a pivotal moment, as countries work towards resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability.”

Shambhu L Hakki, joint secretary at the ministry of external affairs and India’s BRICS Sous Sherpa, delivered the keynote address, interacting with students and highlighting how global cooperation drives collective economic growth.

The high-level academic summit saw robust international participation across member nations: Brazil was represented by Walter Antonio Desidera Neto (coordinator for BTTC and researcher at the Institute for Applied Economic Research) and Alexandre dos Santos Cunha (director of Regional, Urban and Environmental Studies).

China was represented by Prof Xie Xinfeng of Jimei University and Yukang Huang from the University of International Business and Economics.

Russia was represented by Victoria Panova (head of the BRICS Expert Council, vice rector of HSE University, and Russian W20 Sherpa), alongside experts Egor Muravev and Elena Peryshkina.

The largest delegation was from South Africa, and included Prof Mogomme Alpheus Masoga (chairperson of the South African BRICS Think Tank), Prof Allucia Lulu Shokane (dean, University of Zululand), Thandiwe Sechele and Senkhu Donatianus Maimane.

Iran was represented by Omid Babelian, diplomat and research fellow at IPIS, ministry of foreign affairs.

The Egyptian delegation included Fatma Hamdon (economic expert, Information and Decision Support Center) and Mahmoud Mohsen Ahmed Ali (political researcher, Egyptian cabinet).

The conference had three important sessions that focused on Green Industrial Transformation in a Fragmented Global Economy, Protecting Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and Scaling Climate Finance for Green Transition.

Experts noted that while industrial growth traditionally spikes energy use, BRICS nations are uniquely positioned as emerging exporters of green technologies. This allows them to pioneer a more balanced, inclusive model for global green development.

Delegates acknowledged that BRICS countries house major global biodiversity hotspots but face intense pressures from competing development needs. Prof Allucia Lulu Shokane highlighted the untapped potential of local communities, stating, “BRICS nations are home to rich Indigenous Knowledge Systems which offer context-specific, community-led approaches to managing resources, yet they remain largely excluded from formal policy frameworks.”

Experts said that economic growth has long gone hand in hand with industrial transformation and rising energy use, claiming that BRICS countries are also emerging as key producers and exporters of green technologies, creating an opportunity to advance a more balanced and inclusive model of global green development.

“The stakes are high for these economies, which are not only late industrialisers but also among the most vulnerable to climate change,” said Babelian.

With high capital costs currently limiting the speed of the green transition, experts concluded that BRICS nations must collaborate to develop more competitive, accessible, and independent financing approaches.