BRICS Leaders Plant Tree Seedlings in New Delhi

Addis Ababa, September 12, 2026 (FMC) — Leaders of the expanded BRICS membership have taken part in a joint tree-planting ceremony in New Delhi, underscoring the shared importance of environmental sustainability and climate resilience alongside the summit’s broader agenda of cooperation and development.

The tree-planting activity was held at the lawns of Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, following the leaders’ family photograph on the first day of the two-day gathering.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was among the BRICS leaders who participated in planting tree seedlings, bringing an experience closely associated with Ethiopia’s own national environmental restoration drive to the summit setting.

The gesture carries particular resonance for Ethiopia, where Prime Minister Abiy launched the Green Legacy Initiative in 2019, transforming large-scale tree planting into a nationwide environmental restoration and sustainable development campaign. The initiative has since grown into one of Ethiopia’s flagship climate and development efforts, mobilizing millions of citizens and planting billions of seedlings each year.

Ethiopia concluded its 2026 Green Legacy planting campaign this week after planting about 8.2 billion seedlings during the year, bringing the cumulative number planted since the initiative’s launch to 56.8 billion. The country has set a longer-term ambition of reaching 65 billion seedlings, as it prepares to host the 32nd UN Climate Change Conference (COP32).

The New Delhi tree-planting ceremony therefore offered a natural point of resonance with Ethiopia’s experience, as BRICS leaders linked their high-level gathering with a practical expression of environmental responsibility.

The activity formed part of India’s 2026 BRICS chairship programme under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” It complemented discussions at the summit on sustainable development, climate resilience, economic cooperation and other shared priorities.

The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit is being held in New Delhi on September 12–13, bringing together leaders and senior representatives of the expanded BRICS membership, partner countries and major international institutions to advance cooperation on global and development priorities.