MRUDNEWS- The ministers responsible for urban development, housing, sustainable cities and urbanisation from BRICS nations met in New Delhi on 11 and 12 June 2026 under the theme of India’s BRICS Chairship, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” They welcomed the BRICS Urbanisation Forum as an important platform for enhanced dialogue, cooperation and exchange of best practices among participating countries.
According to the declaration, BRICS countries recognise that urbanisation is reshaping their economies, societies and environments, while cities face common challenges related to infrastructure, services, institutions and finance. The ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation through a framework based on mutual learning, aligned with national contexts and guided by a shared commitment to building cities that are resilient and responsive to people’s needs.
The declaration reaffirms the commitment of BRICS members to advancing people-centred urban development and stresses that cities should be planned and governed to promote the well-being, dignity and aspirations of all people. It emphasises the importance of creating inclusive, sustainable, resilient and liveable cities that ensure equitable access to housing, mobility, clean water and sanitation, healthcare, education, green public spaces and livelihood opportunities, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised communities.
BRICS members also committed to expanding cooperation in housing, water and sanitation, harmonised and efficient mobility, waste management and other essential urban services through the BRICS Urbanisation Forum. Through the exchange of policies, practices and institutional approaches, the participating countries aim to improve service delivery, enhance quality of life, foster innovation and better respond to the needs of all communities. The declaration underlines that inclusive, technology-driven urban development is a foundation for equitable growth and sustainable progress.
: The ministers further recognised that cities are on the front line of climate and disaster risks, including heatwaves, floods, droughts, earthquakes and land subsidence. They committed to deepening cooperation on climate- and disaster-resilient urban infrastructure, improving the delivery of basic services and sharing good practices to make cities more sustainable and resilient.
The declaration also calls for enhanced cooperation in promoting environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient urban development, including green infrastructure, energy-efficient buildings, efficient waste management, circular economy initiatives, urban biodiversity conservation, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation measures.
In addition, BRICS countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening local governments and urban governance through improved municipal finance, expanded peer learning and technical exchanges, and greater public participation in local governance and key urban projects. They also highlighted the growing role of digital innovation, encouraging cooperation on smart urban systems, data-driven digital public services and efforts to bridge the digital divide while ensuring equitable access to digital services.
To institutionalise cooperation, the ministers agreed to establish the “BRICS Urban Research and Knowledge Network” as a collaborative platform for applied urban research, knowledge-sharing and peer-to-peer learning among member states.
Golpayegani said the declaration demonstrates BRICS countries’ shared commitment to collective action in advancing sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban development and provides a practical framework for strengthening cooperation to address common urban challenges and improve the quality of life of urban residents.
The declaration expressed appreciation to India for successfully hosting the BRICS Urbanisation Forum 2026 and voiced support for the continued strengthening of cooperation under the forum, while looking forward to the next Urbanisation Forum under the presidency of the People’s Republic of China in 2027.