Community inclusion key focus at BRICS technical experts' climate-smart urban resilience meet: NDMA

New Delhi, July 16 (PTI) A key concern raised at the meetings of BRICS nations' technical experts on Voluntary Principles for Climate-Smart Urban Resilient Infrastructure was inclusion of communities in planning and implementation, a top National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) official has said. Speaking to PTI Videos about the meetings with BRICS member nations under the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) group, Krishna Swaroop Vatsa, a member and head of the department at NDMA, said the issues discussed included making cities more protective for those from weaker socio-economic backgrounds, and adopting an inclusive approach to disaster management. "Perhaps the most important concern raised during the meetings was including communities in the planning and implementation. Cities must be more caring and protective of people, particularly those from weaker socio-economic profiles, and we should always practice an inclusive approach to disaster management," Vatsa told PTI. "These are some of the most important concerns that came up in the contributions made by all the BRICS member countries," he added. The BRICS Voluntary Principles for Climate-Smart Urban Resilient Infrastructure are collaborative policy frameworks under India's BRICS chairship in 2026. Led by India's NDMA, the non-binding guidelines are meant to give member nations a roadmap for protecting public services, lives, and civic infrastructure against accelerating environmental hazards. At the meetings with technical experts of member nations, discussions focused on improving infrastructure resilience, adapting cities to heatwaves, and ensuring that even in hazardous situations, critical services remain uninterrupted. "The discussions also included how should we look at the various innovations and programs introduced by the BRICS countries, to ensure we have relevant learning for city-level infrastructure planning, how should we look at flood monitoring, heat wave management, and the various other hazards and emergencies that cities are exposed to," the NDMA official said. He said deliberations also focused on improving monitoring mechanisms, improving institutions for disaster management at city level, and empowering local governments by providing them more resources. "There were no major disagreements, and I think there is a fairly good amount of consensus on all the issues. Sometimes countries have a particular language they prefer to use, and the suggestions from certain countries reflect how they use a particular term or concept. But in terms of overall substance, there is no disagreement," Vatsa told PTI. The official said several publications and a joint statement are being prepared to outline future collaboration among BRICS countries, noting that these outcomes are approved during ministerial meetings to chalk out the way forward. "The idea is to step up our cooperation, which can happen bilaterally or multilaterally. What we are looking for is a good framework that will guide all the BRICS countries in stepping up cooperation in this area," he said. When asked how a single set of rules for urban planning may be relevant for countries with different geographical challenges, Vatsa highlighted that the principles are phrased in such a manner that all the actions are contextual. "All of them are situated in the national context and priorities, and the countries can take a decision on how to go about it. We are very mindful of the very different geographical and socio-economic contexts of the BRICS countries, and all the interventions are based on an acknowledgment of these differences," Vatsa said. Technical experts and delegates from BRICS member nations have convened virtually to advance drafting negotiations on Voluntary Principles for Climate-Smart Urban Resilient Infrastructure, aiming to establish actionable guidelines for cross-border civic disaster prevention, heatwave adaptation and critical-service continuity. The final outcome is expected after the third BRICS DRR group meeting on July 22 and 23, with formal ministerial adoption scheduled at the ministerial meeting slated July 24. PTI ABU ARB ARB