The Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) member countries’ Environment Ministers on Friday adopted the Partnership for Urban Environmental Sustainability Initiative (Puesi), which identifies water and air pollution prevention measures.

The initiative further sets out to improve waste management, spatial planning and mobility as priority areas for cooperation.

The partnership envisions the promotion of sustainable development in urban areas, aiming to build a knowledge hub to facilitate the sharing of policies and best practices for urban sustainability, to provide an interface for information exchange and communication between suppliers and users of environment-friendly technologies and products.

“Puesi, if implemented in a holistic manner, has the potential to contribute significantly to the reduction of pollution and waste being generated,” said Environmental Affairs Minister Dr Edna Molewa.

Speaking at the forum, she noted that the Brics countries needed to work together to mobilise sufficient financial resources for the implementation of [Agenda 2030’s] Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Without the means of implementation, we will not be able to achieve much. The adoption of the SDG indicators and work plan will be a significant step on the way forward on tracking the implementation of the SDGs,” Molewa pointed out.

Further, she warned that these goals would not be achieved if natural resources were not protected and used sustainably, welcoming the Brics Clean Rivers Umbrella Programme that was introduced at the forum.

“We are confident that international solidarity will prevail, where countries will encourage and support each other to implement their nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

“South Africa is of the view that implementation of the NDCs also build on and strengthen wider socioeconomic development and poverty alleviation efforts. Our key challenge is not only reducing current emissions, but avoiding future emissions, and avoiding an erosion of our development gains by climate impacts,” Molewa asserted.