New Delhi witnessed a symbolic display of international cooperation on Saturday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of BRICS member countries came together for a joint tree plantation programme at Bharat Mandapam.
The plantation ceremony was held on the lawns outside the summit venue during the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit. The event provided a quieter but significant moment amid the high-level diplomatic meetings taking place in the capital, with participating leaders using the occasion to highlight the importance of environmental responsibility and collective action.
The joint plantation was included in the official schedule of the summit and followed the BRICS leaders’ family photograph at Bharat Mandapam. It was scheduled for 5:10 pm on September 12.
A Green Message From the BRICS Summit
Tree plantation has become a widely recognised symbol of environmental responsibility, and the participation of leaders from several major emerging economies gave the initiative a broader diplomatic significance.
The gesture came at a time when climate change, environmental degradation, energy security and sustainable development are increasingly central to international discussions. By participating together, the leaders presented an image of cooperation around an issue that extends beyond national borders.
The BRICS summit itself is being held under India’s chairship with a broad focus on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. These themes are closely connected with the need for countries to pursue economic development while also addressing environmental challenges.
Plantation Held Amid Intense Diplomatic Activity
The environmental initiative took place during a packed day of diplomatic engagements in New Delhi. The summit has brought together leaders and senior representatives from BRICS countries at a time of major geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, including discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The summit is also addressing wider questions involving global governance, economic cooperation and international stability.
Against this backdrop, the tree plantation offered a symbolic contrast to the intense political discussions inside the summit venue. The activity focused attention on a shared environmental responsibility rather than differences between participating countries.
Environment and Sustainable Development in Focus
Climate change is one of the issues that requires sustained cooperation among developing and developed economies alike. Countries face different challenges, ranging from extreme weather events and water stress to rising temperatures, biodiversity loss and pressure on natural resources.
For emerging economies, the challenge is particularly complex because environmental protection has to be balanced with economic growth, industrial development and the need to improve living standards.
The BRICS framework has increasingly expanded its discussions beyond traditional economic cooperation to areas such as sustainable development, clean energy, technology and climate-related challenges. The tree plantation ceremony therefore served as a visual representation of the wider sustainability agenda associated with the summit.
India Uses Summit to Highlight Cooperation
Hosting the event at Bharat Mandapam also allowed India to showcase its approach of combining diplomacy with initiatives focused on sustainability and innovation.
The summit programme includes the Bharat Innovates exposition, which is showcasing Indian deep-tech innovations, including technologies related to clean energy and other areas of sustainable development. The combination of innovation-focused activities and the plantation initiative reflects the broader theme of using cooperation and technology to address future challenges.
Delhi itself has also undergone an extensive beautification exercise ahead of the summit, with thousands of plants being used across major roads and public spaces along key routes connected to the summit venue.
A Symbolic Moment With a Wider Message
While the tree plantation was a ceremonial event, its message carried significance beyond the BRICS gathering. The participation of multiple national leaders in a common environmental activity highlighted the idea that global challenges require cooperation even when countries have different political and strategic interests.
The summit is taking place against the backdrop of conflicts and geopolitical tensions, including the continuing instability in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. BRICS leaders have also been negotiating common positions on major international issues, ultimately agreeing on a joint declaration during the New Delhi summit.
In that wider context, the planting of trees at Bharat Mandapam offered a positive and visually powerful message: despite differences on global political questions, environmental protection remains an area where collective action can provide common ground.
The initiative may have lasted only a short time, but the image of BRICS leaders planting trees together added an important environmental dimension to India's hosting of the 18th BRICS Summit.
Journalist: Vijay Singh