AGP Executive Report

BRICS Summit Watch (India): Leaders and ministers are arriving in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS summit, with India pushing a “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” agenda and stressing trade, energy and global governance reform. Payments & Trade in Local Currencies: At the BRICS Business Forum, India’s Piyush Goyal urged members to link payment systems, expand local-currency trade and simplify rules for faster digital commerce. Climate Finance (Brazil link): In Salvador, Brazil, the National Climate Fund’s executive director joined an inter-regional finance meeting where Somalia shared how it is mobilizing climate money through whole-of-government approaches. Environment & Disaster Warning (Himalayas): Environmentalist Tikender Panwar urged decommissioning vulnerable hydropower in the Himalayas after Nepal’s disaster highlighted rising glacial lake outburst flood risks. Food Security Risk (Atlantic currents): A new study warns that weakening Atlantic ocean currents could sharply reduce food production, threatening global breadbaskets and prices. Extreme Weather in Brazil: A deadly landslide in Paraná killed a mother, her 5-year-old son and her boyfriend after severe storms.

BRICS Summit Watch: China confirmed Xi Jinping will attend India’s 2026 BRICS summit in New Delhi (Sept 12–13), with India pushing its chair theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” and framing BRICS as a way to turn South-South cooperation into results, not just representation. Diplomacy & Trade: India’s EAM Jaishankar met Brazil’s FM Mauro Vieira as the summit opened, discussing trade, investment, defense, energy, agriculture and space—while Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged deeper market access, simpler rules and faster clearance for BRICS business. Finance Links: India and Russia also moved on a bilateral investment treaty push, with talks on boosting economic cooperation and financial services. Climate Angle: Separate coverage flags climate action as part of the BRICS agenda, linking energy transition, resilience, critical minerals and climate finance to Global South priorities. Security in Delhi: Reports say heavy security and traffic controls are underway for leaders’ arrivals and summit days.

Amazon Protection: Brazil signed decrees creating four Sustainable Development Reserves around BR-319, covering 669,000 hectares to curb deforestation risk and protect biodiversity and aquatic environments while allowing sustainable use by local communities. Mining & Rights: A Brazilian federal judge suspended Sigma Mineração’s environmental licenses for the Grota do Cirilo lithium project, citing a dispute over whether quilombola communities fall within the required consultation impact area. Climate Finance Uncertainty: Amazon Fund grantees warn that a potential funding freeze after Brazil’s election could stall momentum that helped cut deforestation and support forest restoration. Wildlife Conservation: Brazil added the Hyacinth Macaw and Tucuxi to its threatened species list, highlighting ongoing biodiversity pressures. BRICS & Diplomacy: Brazil’s FM Mauro Vieira arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS summit as India pushes a Global South agenda tied to food, energy, and supply-chain resilience. Weather & Risk: A new piece reflects on why weather forecasting remains difficult—an issue that matters as climate extremes intensify.

BRICS Summit Security & Logistics: New Delhi is ramping up for the Sept 12–13 BRICS Leaders’ Summit, deploying about 25,000 security and traffic personnel around Bharat Mandapam and tightening movement protocols. Court Disruptions: Delhi Traffic Police rescheduled the National Lok Adalat from Sept 12 to Oct 10 and shifted other hearings tied to summit days. Climate Signals: Copernicus reports August 2026 as the joint warmest month on record, with global temperatures back above 1.5°C and record sea-surface heat tied to intensifying El Niño—raising wildfire and disaster risks. Plastic Waste Progress (Brazil-linked): The Alliance to End Plastic Waste says it cut 138,162 tonnes of unmanaged plastic waste in 2025 and is running Country Programs including Brazil. Sustainable Shipping: Asyad Shipping and Vale marked a milestone with the first wind-assisted Valemax call in Oman, using rotor sails to cut fuel use on routes that include Brazil.

Amazon Forest Politics: Brazil’s election is putting deforestation front and center, with Lula credited for major Amazon forest gains while his rival signals a sharp rollback risk—an issue that directly affects carbon storage and global warming. Carbon Markets Push: Brazil is set to test whether China can become a buyer of Brazilian carbon credits and ITMOs, aiming for a bilateral carbon-market accord ahead of COP31, alongside a Brazil-China-EU alignment push. Farm Pressure & Investment: A new global survey finds farmers worldwide are cutting back spending as costs, uncertainty, and unpredictable weather squeeze margins—Brazil included—while switching toward cheaper crop protection options. Regenerative Agriculture in Brazil: Grupo Bimbo says regenerative farming has expanded to over 500,000 hectares in 2025, with 73% growth and soil-health and biodiversity goals tied to ecosystem protection. Climate Implementation in Baku: Brazil’s climate negotiator says Climate Week in Baku is a key step toward COP31 implementation, shifting focus from building Paris rules to delivering them. Plastic Waste Progress: The Alliance to End Plastic Waste reports 2025 progress under Strategy 2030, including reductions and valorization of unmanaged plastic waste.

Amazon biodiversity & conservation: A restoration team in Hong Kong is seeing wildlife return to Tai Mo Shan as native subtropical forest plots rebuild habitat, with thousands of seedlings and rare butterflies coming back. Tropical insects & biodiversity: A new Monash University-led push argues tropical insect conservation is failing because most data comes from temperate regions, risking blind spots where most species live. Climate risk to food: The UN World Food Programme warns a “super El Niño” could hit Latin America’s food security, with drought and rainfall extremes threatening crops and up to 16 million people at risk. Brazil offshore energy: SLB and Shearwater launched a multi-client Amapá 3D seismic survey off northern Brazil to expand subsurface data after a nearby hydrocarbon discovery. BRICS diplomacy (context for Brazil): Leaders are heading to the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi under “resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability,” with Brazil among full members and discussions focused on trade, finance and global governance reform.

Mercury Poisoning in the Amazon: A new Mongabay Latam analysis maps mercury risk across the Madeira River basin, finding residents in multiple Brazil communities—especially Lake Puruzinho, plus riverside and Indigenous areas in Rondônia—are eating fish with mercury levels above WHO-safe limits, with health impacts tied to fish consumption. Urban Wildlife Parasites: In Rio Branco, Brazilian researchers report previously undocumented filarioid nematodes in urban bats, including a lineage so distinct it may represent a new genus or species—highlighting how city wildlife can matter for infectious-disease surveillance. Amazon Health Meets Climate Stress: Reporting from the Peruvian Amazon shows Indigenous Matsés communities facing malaria and hepatitis B outbreaks worsened by drought and reduced river access to care, linking climate pressures to public health. Ag Tech & Regulation Push: Brazil’s seed sector is calling for regulatory alignment with China as Chinese biotech firms expand in Brazil, while differences in approval systems could slow new crop technologies. Tropical Forest Finance Under Strain: A Brazil-led tropical forest conservation fund is getting hit by global trade and geopolitical shocks, leaving talks and pledges in limbo. Clean Transport Fuel: An international review spotlights biomethane as a near-term, cost-effective decarbonization option for heavy transport, with Brazil positioned for renewable-fuel growth.

Deforestation Compliance Tech: Cardano Foundation and Blockforce launched a dual-ledger supply-chain verification system for Brazilian fashion exporters, anchoring 500,000+ records on Cardano while keeping sensitive data on permissioned Hyperledger Fabric—starting with Azzas 2154, tracing leather across 6,200+ suppliers and processing 95,000+ invoices. Mining Permits Under Scrutiny: Sigma Lithium says it has not received legal notice about a reported preliminary ruling that allegedly suspended environmental licences for its Grota do Cirilo mine, and says operations continue while it prepares its legal defense. Coastal Restoration in Brazil: Jan De Nul completed major beach strengthening at Itapoá, reusing 7 million cubic metres of dredged sand to build 9 km of new beaches and 5 km of dunes, adding 300,000 native plants to support biodiversity. Shipping + Emissions: HMM signed a 25-year, $3.5B Vale iron-ore shipping deal using eight Newcastlemax bulk carriers with tri-fuel engines (methanol/ethanol-ready) plus wind-assist rotor sails to cut fuel use and carbon. Public Health + Local Production: Biocon secured a 10-year Pertuzumab supply contract in Brazil under the PDP program, aiming to expand access to HER2-positive breast cancer treatment via phased local manufacturing.

Climate & Health: Europe’s unusually warm, dry summer is pushing skin-cancer concerns higher, with calls for stronger sun-safety rules and tougher limits on sunbeds—an issue that also affects Brazil’s public health debate. Food Security: A new warning flags a looming global food crisis driven by war-linked export disruptions, fertiliser bottlenecks, and El Niño intensifying drought risks. Brazil Trade & Sovereignty: Ahead of Independence Day, Lula defended Brazil’s right to choose what it buys and sells, indirectly targeting tariff pressure from the U.S. Biodiversity & Invasives: Porto Seguro is paying for captured lionfish to protect native reefs and local fisheries. Water & Resilience: The BRICS-linked New Development Bank approved $205M for water pipelines and treatment capacity in South Africa—highlighting how water access underpins health, farming and long-term development.

Invasive Species Control: Porto Seguro, Bahia is paying about $10 per captured lionfish, removing nearly 500 specimens in a month to protect reefs and local fisheries from the fast-spreading venomous predator. Climate & Water Risks: A Brazilian eucalyptus boom is under scrutiny after scientists in Minas Gerais found groundwater levels dropped 4.5 metres over ~45 years, adding to fears that “green desert” plantations can disrupt rainfall and water access. Food Prices & Weather: The UN FAO reports global food prices rose 1.9% in August to the highest since 2022, driven by weather shocks, Black Sea logistics issues, and Middle East tensions; sugar jumped 11.9% and Brazil’s output is cited among factors. Critical Minerals & Permits: Vale has shelved a critical-minerals IPO amid growing Brazilian opposition over strategic asset control, highlighting how permitting and politics can reshape investment plans. Health & Climate: A Brazilian study links temperatures below 19°C with higher cardiovascular hospitalization risk across tropical and temperate cities, suggesting heat regions may still face cold-weather health impacts.

Brazil’s Mining Court Ruling: A Brazilian judge ordered the suspension of environmental licenses and mining activities at Sigma Lithium’s Grota do Cirilo mine in Minas Gerais, citing risks to a nearby Bau Quilombola community and the need for free, prior and informed consultation. Brazil’s Climate & Water Stress: A new WWF-Brazil report highlights how the Pantanal is drying out and losing flooded habitat, with more than 1 million hectares lost by 2025 versus 1985, making the biome more vulnerable to climate change across surrounding regions. Brazil’s Aviation Safety Move: Cascavel’s airport in Paraná temporarily restricts takeoffs and landings when the runway is wet after a LATAM aircraft slid off during rain, with operations paused until investigation findings are reviewed. Food Prices & Climate Risk: FAO reports global food prices rose to the highest level since late 2022, driven by weather shocks, geopolitical tensions, and trade disruptions—factors that also affect Brazil’s agricultural outlook.

Lithium Court Ruling: A Brazilian court ordered the suspension of Sigma Mineração’s environmental licenses and halted extraction at the Grota do Cirilo lithium project in Minas Gerais, after a quilombola community challenged the company’s claimed distance from traditional territory. Amazon & Indigenous Rights: President Lula met Leonardo DiCaprio to discuss Amazon deforestation cuts and new indigenous reserves, with DiCaprio highlighting NGO-backed forest protection efforts. Climate Overshoot Warning: UNEP says the world is set to exceed the 1.5°C threshold within years, pushing a new focus on limiting and shortening overshoot. Health Planning for El Niño: Brazil launched AdaptaSUS, a 2026–2027 preparedness plan linking climate risks to public health emergencies across the SUS network. Green Energy Diplomacy: Brazil signaled deeper renewable-energy cooperation with India, including biofuels and clean mobility. Food Prices Pressure: FAO reported global food prices rose to the highest since late 2022, driven by weather shocks and war-related supply disruptions.

Water Justice in Rio’s Baixada Fluminense: A new report spotlights how neglect of housing, sewerage, and waste services has degraded stretches of the Dona Eugênia River in Coreia (Mesquita), harming daily life for residents who once relied on the water for chores and drinking. Climate-Health Preparedness: Brazil unveiled AdaptaSUS, a 2026–2027 plan to prepare the public health system for El Niño-linked emergencies, aiming to cut disease and death risks and guide states and cities with federal support. Green Energy Diplomacy: Brazil is seeking deeper renewable-energy cooperation with India, focusing on biofuels, clean mobility, and energy security as both countries push low-carbon transitions. Food Prices and Climate Shocks: The UN FAO says global food prices hit their highest level since late 2022, driven by extreme weather, war disruptions, and El Niño risks—pressuring staples worldwide, including commodities tied to Brazil’s agricultural outlook. BRICS Legal Dialogue: Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court president addressed BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum discussions on mediation, cross-border enforcement, AI and sustainable development, with calls for a “living Nalanda University” style of open judicial debate.

Amazon Oil Watch: Brazil’s Ibama has authorized Petrobras to drill three additional deep wells in the Foz do Amazonas basin, a move that could test whether a recent discovery is commercially viable—while also renewing debate inside Lula’s government over environmental risks and the need to replenish reserves. Public Health & Climate: A major Brazil real-world evaluation of the TAK-003 dengue vaccine reports protection that does not fade after one year, with strong results against symptomatic dengue and hospitalizations in São Paulo adolescents—an urgent finding as climate-driven dengue expansion accelerates. Drought Pressure on Food: The UN FAO says global food prices climbed in August to the highest level since late 2022, driven by extreme weather and trade disruptions—signals that Brazil’s farm and food supply chains may face tighter, more volatile conditions. Illegal Mining Safety: Brazilian lawmaker Duda Salabert and her aide were assaulted while investigating suspected illegal mining in Minas Gerais, highlighting the danger faced by environmental watchdogs on the ground. Biodiversity Research: Scientists studying Brazil’s Amazon report “zombie-ant” fungus DNA in moss even far from ant graveyards, suggesting the fungus may persist in plants beyond its known insect-infecting role.

Food Prices Spike: The UN FAO says global food prices in August hit the highest level since late 2022, with a rising “risk premium” driven by extreme heat and drought in Europe, El Niño fears, and war-linked supply disruptions. El Niño Hits the Amazon: A MapBiomas study finds 38% of Amazon settlements were highly exposed to the 2024 El Niño, with major drops in rainfall and higher temperatures. Amazon Bioeconomy Under Threat: Researchers warn that a stronger El Niño could extend drought into 2027, raising fire risk and disrupting crops central to the Amazon’s bioeconomy. Brazil-EU Meat Clash: Brazil says it may take “reciprocal measures” after the EU suspended Brazilian meat imports over antimicrobial rules, while the EU argues compliance gaps. Critical Minerals Push: Brazil’s Senate approved a rare earths/critical minerals framework law, aiming to unlock large-scale projects as China’s export controls loom. Land Resilience at COP17: A UNCCD COP17 Mayors’ Forum in Mongolia produced a declaration backing sustainable land management and drought resilience, with cities urged to lead implementation.

Offshore Wind Push: ABS and Japan Blue Energy (JB Energy) signed an MoU to back the 18 MW floating wind pilot “Aura Sul Wind” off Rio Grande do Sul, including port emissions-reduction studies for Rio Grande and a preliminary decommissioning plan for JB Energy’s Raijin Float. Amazon Urban Climate: On Amazon Day, coverage highlights Brazil’s shift from deforestation-only metrics to city-led resilience, pointing to the “Brazil Mutirão” program supporting Amazon cities with electrification, circular economy and methane-cutting projects. Solar Efficiency Research: Brazilian researchers report that delayed inverter startup at a São Paulo utility-scale plant can cut annual solar output by 1.88%, with more than half the losses happening in the first 90 minutes after sunrise. Water & Extremes Watch: Iguazu Falls in southern Brazil is running at about five times its normal flow after recent heavy rain, with monitoring tied to river-basin conditions. Climate Risk Context: El Niño is expected to persist and intensify, with forecasts warning of major impacts on rainfall patterns and food security across regions.