The behind-the-scenes reading of the Declaration of the XV Summit "BRICS and Africa: Association for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive multilateralism", reveals the progress in the world of the climate crisis, energy insecurity and violence against the woman.
In the 94-point statement by the leaders of Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa, who met in Johannesburg, the capital of South Africa, homeland of Nelson Mandela, the words energy and climate are the most frequently used: 25 and 26 times, respectively; and, to the delight of Saudi women, the word woman is used eleven times.
The agenda of needs and concerns had greater significance and included the rejection of sanctions, the fight against terrorism, corruption, the request for a greater representation of emerging markets and developing countries in international organizations, currency trade national, the classification of universities, communication technologies and the importance and encouragement of small businesses.
“We support a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the composition of the Council, so that it can adequately respond to current global challenges and support the legitimate aspirations of emerging and developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, including Brazil, India and South Africa, to play a greater role in international affairs, particularly at the United Nations, including its Security Council”, says the Declaration.
The demand for respect and socio-political inclusion of women, under the principles and spirit of the BRICS such as mutual respect and understanding, sovereign equality, solidarity, democracy, openness, inclusion, reinforced collaboration and consensus is a recurring theme.
“We recognize the importance of greater participation of women in peace processes, including conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction and development, and peacekeeping. peace," he says.
The concern for energy security and the environmental impact of the use of fossil fuels constitutes a call to rethink the oil industry on how to carry out the transition towards the use of less polluting energy sources, without causing poverty.
Point 70 of the Declaration says: "While we highlight the fundamental role of energy access in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, and take note of the risks outlined for energy security, we underscore the need for a greater cooperation between the BRICS countries as main producers and consumers of energy products and services”.
And he adds: “We believe that energy security, access to energy and energy transitions are important and must be balanced. We welcome the strengthening of cooperation and increased investment in supply chains for energy transitions and take note of the need to fully participate in the global clean energy value chain.”
“We commit to increasing the resilience of energy systems, including critical energy infrastructure, by encouraging the use of clean energy options, and by promoting research and innovation in energy science and technology. We intend to address the challenges of energy security by encouraging investment flows in energy. We share a common vision, taking into account national priorities and circumstances, on the efficient use of all energy sources, namely: renewable energy, including biofuels, hydropower, fossil fuels, nuclear power and hydrogen produced on the basis of zero or low emission technologies and processes, which are crucial for a just transition towards more flexible, resilient and sustainable energy systems. We recognize the role of fossil fuels in supporting energy security and transition."
Concern about the climate crisis is a constant in the Declaration and in point 53 it states: "We recognize the importance of applying the SDGs in an integrated and holistic manner, among other things through the eradication of poverty and the fight against climate change, while promoting sustainable land use and water management, the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components and biodiversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of resources genetic resources, including appropriate access to genetic resources, in line with Article 1 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and in accordance with national circumstances, priorities and capacities.
In point 56 he reiterates: "We once again emphasize the importance of applying the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement, as well as the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capacities (CBDR). -RC), improving the transfer of low-cost climate technology, the development of capacities and the mobilization of new affordable, adequate and timely financial resources for sustainable projects from the environmental point of view”.
In 61 it says: "In addition, we urge developed countries to meet their commitments, including mobilizing 100.000 million dollars annually by 2020 and until 2025 to support climate action in developing countries" and in 63 it points out that They oppose trade barriers, including those imposed by some developed countries under the pretext of tackling climate change, and reiterate the commitment to improve coordination on these issues.
“We stress that measures taken to address climate change and biodiversity loss must be consistent with the WTO and must not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade, and must not create unnecessary obstacles to trade. international"..
On education, the leaders agreed with the importance attached by South Africa, as chair of the BRICS, to the transformation of education and the development of skills for the future. They supported the principle of facilitating mutual recognition of academic qualifications among the BRICS countries to ensure the mobility of qualified professionals, academics and students and the recognition of qualifications obtained in each other's countries, provided that applicable national laws are complied with.
“We welcome the concrete proposals made during the 10th Meeting of Education Ministers of the BRICS countries focused on critical areas of education and training, such as the development of entrepreneurship, skills for a changing world, out-of-school youth, climate change, labor market information, early childhood development, and world university rankings.
In 74, they supported the digital transformation in education and agreed to explore opportunities on the BRICS digital education cooperation mechanisms, hold digital education policy dialogues, share digital educational resources, build smart education systems, and jointly promote the digital transformation of education in the BRICS countries and develop sustainable education by strengthening cooperation within the BRICS Network University and other institution-to-institution initiatives in this field, including the BRICS University League.”
We welcome the consideration of the International Board of Directors of the BRICS Network University to expand the membership of the BRICS Network University to include more universities from the BRICS countries.
In 37 they recognized the crucial role played by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in unleashing the full potential of the BRICS economies and reaffirmed the importance of their participation in production networks and value chains. Joint efforts will continue to remove constraints such as the lack of easily accessible information and funding, skills shortages, network effects, as well as excessive administrative burden regulation, and constraints related to recruitment ensuring information and easily accessible financing, skills enhancement and market linkage.
“We recognize the crucial role that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play in unlocking the full potential of the BRICS economies and reaffirm the importance of their participation in production networks and value chains. We will continue joint efforts to remove constraints such as the lack of easily accessible information and funding, skills shortages, network effects, as well as excessive administrative burden regulation, and constraints related to recruitment ensuring information and easily accessible financing, skills enhancement and market linkage”.
“Member States shall facilitate the exchange of business missions and promote Business to Business (B2B) sectoral meetings among MSMEs, to enhance business-to-business cooperation and business alliances among BRICS MSMEs, with special attention to women-owned MSMEs. and young people”.
Integration and holism within the BRICS countries requires joint leadership, free from the interference of materialistic competitiveness and the imposition of market regulations that favour subordination and obedience. A new paradigm of strategic and complementary alliances in favour of human survival beyond Western ethnocentrism and its religious dogmatism.