Brazil and India develop agreements on climate resources
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed critical minerals, steel and fossil fuels.
In a statement following the official meeting, it was described as a partnership on energy transition, climate change, critical minerals and rare-earths.
A memorandum of understanding on cooperation on rare earth elements and critical minerals was signed and the statement stated that the heads of state, “expressed the expectation that such an instrument will boost bilateral cooperation, thereby strengthening value chains and global competitiveness in the exploration, mining, processing, recycling and refining of critical minerals”.
The statement derives from President Lula visiting India to meet Prime Mininster Modi in his fourth visit to India and his second state visit.
The state visit follows Prime Minister Modi's state visit to Brazil, on July 7 and 8, 2025.
As a precursor for their discussion their joint statement recognised “their shared vision of a sustainable and equitable future depends on the collective action of nations to address climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and other environmental challenges, the leaders highlighted the need to advance energy transitions and recognised the critical role of alternative energy sources – such as sustainable biofuels, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear – in the energy transformation and transition aimed at meeting climate goals.”
The statement acknowledged that the heads of state reiterated their commitment to the "Belém 4x Pledge on Sustainable Fuels".
This outlines that participating countries endorse the goal of expanding the global use of sustainable fuels by at least four times by 2035, relative to 2024 levels.
They were reported as welcoming the start of cooperation under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Renewable Energy, signed in July 2025, through a virtual meeting of the Joint Working Group, covering solar and wind energy, biomass/bioenergy, energy from waste, hydropower, storage, hydrogen production by zero- and low-emission technologies”.
The heads of state also, “noted fruitful discussions to deepen bilateral cooperation on metals and minerals, particularly in the area of rare earths and critical minerals essential to economic development and clean energy technologies”.
The meeting also revealed an official recognition of the importance of resilient and sustainable value chains in the steel sector. “The two sides agreed to intensify discussions to advance cooperation in the steel value chain, including in the areas of investment facilitation, technological cooperation and sustainable and responsible practices in both countries”.
It was stated that the heads of state, “underlined the importance of bilateral collaboration in the oil and gas sector. They expressed satisfaction with the engagement of companies from both countries to promote trade, investment and cooperation in deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration blocks. They encouraged both sides to work to foster reciprocal investments in the sector and identify additional opportunities for cooperation, including in emissions reduction and carbon capture technologies. They reiterated their willingness to achieve anticipated production and tangible returns on joint projects”.
