BRICS ministers reject carbon border adjustment mechanisms as trade barriers

The 12th BRICS ministerial meeting on environment and climate, themed “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,” concluded in New Delhi under India's chairmanship. In its joint statement, the grouping for the first time directly identified carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAM) as a significant trade barrier for developing countries such as India, and stated that such mechanisms are inconsistent with international law.

Carbon border adjustment mechanisms aim to tax imported carbon-intensive products to reduce carbon leakage, particularly by developed countries on products from developing countries. The ministerial statement expressed opposition to what it described as unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist measures that are not in line with international law.