Empirical Analysis of BRICS Countries Pathway Toward Low-Carbon Environment


 Background: The rising sea level, the lasting variations on the surface ocean current, vulnerable ecosystems, hydrological cycle, extreme weather conditions, and the like are subjects emanating from the rising emission in the atmosphere. Global climate change has emerged as humanity's greatest challenge, affecting both the earth's natural security and the long-term growth of human society. Yet, the reckless pursuit of economic gains put social and ecological environmental safety at a severe demerit. This practice has brought grave consequences to humanity in environmental pollution, climate change, health hazards depletion, etc. Protecting the environment and fostering long-term growth while reducing carbon emissions has become a global concern. The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) are participating in the fight against climate change through LCE promotion. In this study, we use content analysis to discusses some of the policies, plans, programs outlined by the various governments in the BRICS that can help them reach to help them accomplish LCE. Results: The study discussion indicates that Brazil has adopted the (National Energy Plans 2030 and 2050), Russia (Energy strategy 2035 for Russia), India actions and plans also include (Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement of India, China (Pollution Control, Energy Conservation, and Carbon Reduction and South Africa (Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan). The result from the study also indicates that currently Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are rated "Insufficient," "Critically Insufficient," "Compactible" "incompatible," and "Highly Insufficient" respectively in their commitment to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. Conclusion: The paper recommends that BRICS countries reach LCE through; expansion in low-carbon investments and financing, focus on taxation extends beyond energy, investment in low-carbon cities, adapting to a circular economy and low-carbon technology, a revisitation of the electricity markets, and the promotion of climate-friendly international trade among the BRICS countries.

and a global overview of their combined effects, the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) project was launched in 2009. All of this is being done in order to make these pledges more transparent and to encourage those governments that haven't made them yet to do so. In addition, CAT assesses whether countries are on track to meet their commitments with current implemented policies (34). NDCs with this rating falls well of a country's "fair share" range and are not at all consistent with holding warming below 2 o C let alone the Paris Agreement stronger 1.5 o C Highly Insu cient NDCs with this rating fall outside of a country's "fair share" range and not consistent with holding warming below 2 o C let alone the Paris Agreement stronger 1.5 o C Insu cient NDCs with this rating are in the least stringent part of a country's "fair share" range and not consistent with holding warming below 2 o C let alone the Paris Agreement stronger 1.5 o C Compactible NDCs with this rating are consistent with the 2009 Copenhagen 2 o C goal and therefore fall within a country's "fair share" range but are not entirely consistent with the Paris Agreement.

o C Paris Agreement Compactible
This rating indicates that a government's NDCs in the most stringent part of a country's "fair share" range: it is consistent with the Paris Agreement stronger 1.5 o C limit

Role Model
This rating indicates that a government's NDC is more ambitious than what is considered a "fair share" contribution: it is consistent with the Paris Agreement stronger 1.5 o C limit Source: Climate Action Tracker (35) Results Brazil Brazil's emissions are expected to be 4% to 5% lower than their prior forecast from December 2019 (39). Emissions from energy (including transportation) and industrial activities are expected to rise considerably due to COVID-19 and the decline in Brazil's economy. However, unless emissions reduce during the early 2020s, Brazil will fall short of its 2030 NDC target. Deforestation emissions are continuing to rise, indicating that Brazil will not ful ll its NDC commitments.
CAT considers Brazil's present Paris Agreement aim "insu cient" since it does not go far enough to keep warming below 2°C, let alone 1.5°C, as depicted in Figure 4.

Russia
Russia's current 2030 emissions target (25-30% lower than 1990 levels) was deemed "Critically Insu cient" by the (35). Russia's classi cation would be raised from "Highly Insu cient" to "Highly Su cient," with a reduction of 33% below 1990 levels. Russia's NDC update should be much more ambitious if it plays a fair role in limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as shown in Figure 5.

India
India boosts its NDC target, plans to build new coal-red power plants, and instead develops a strategy to phase out coal for electricity generation by 2040 (57). In that case, it might become a global climate leader with a "1.5 C compatible" grade, as shown in Figure 6. The GDP intensity target could be replaced with an absolute target to promote transparency and clarity (57). Three of the most recent policies outlined by India to reach LEC are discussed below:

China
China's emission forecasts have been lowered due to the current COVID-19 epidemic. If current policies are followed, GHG emissions in 2030 will range from 12.9-14.7 Gt CO 2 e/year. As a result of these efforts, China is expected to meet its 2020 promise and 2030 NDC targets (68). Due to revised GDP projections in the ongoing global pandemic, the carbon intensity target (emissions/GDP) has also been lowered by -3 to -8 percent to 14.4-16.9 Gt CO 2 e/ in 2030. China's NDC and national policies are "incompatible" with keeping global warming below 2°C, much less 1.5°C, unless other countries make signi cantly more signi cant cuts and similarly higher efforts, as indicates in Figure 7 (68).

South Africa
South Africa's NDC goal is rated as "Highly Insu cient" based on the upper end of the NDC target range, as shown in Figure 8. In light of this, South Africa's 2030 goal, which was resubmitted to the UNFCCC as part of the Paris Agreement's 2020 ambition-increasing cycle, should be reconsidered (34). This paper will take an overview of the strategy adopted by the BRICS countries to reduce carbon emissions. The BRICS summits and environment ministers' meetings have supported the UN's CC initiatives, particularly the G20 and UN summits' rising action on sustainable development, CC, and biodiversity. The UN has received similar support from the majority of BRICS summit commitments. Improving collaboration and continuing the exchange of knowledge reduce the adverse effect of CC on food security and agriculture is one of the aims of BRICS countries (2). The study delved into three recent policies adopted by each government in the BRICS countries to solve CC issues, GHG, carbon emission, and general environmental problems. This section will provide insight into the aims and objectives of some of these projects and policies and how they can lead to LCE in the BRICS countries.

Brazil s pathway to a low carbon economy
Brazil is among the ve signi cant emergings "BRICS" countries, and it has the world's sixth-highest GHG emissions (36 coordinates the program, supporting construction, appliances, and manufacturing efforts. Other more recent measures emphasizing energy e ciency include the MME and (PNE 2030), which estimates that by 2030, Brazil will have cut its energy use by 10%. The MME is currently working on the PNE 2050 National Energy Plan, which will likely be completed shortly (40). Analysis and estimates of economic development, energy demand, and output potential will be used to inform energy policy for the next 30 years (40). The Governmental Energy Research Company emphasizes investing in modern renewable energies such as wind and solar; the plan estimates a relative increase in energy supply from thermal power plants fueled by natural gas and coal (41).

Plan to Control Illegal Deforestation and Recovery of Native Vegetation (PPCDAm and PPCerrado)
The Executive Committee for the Control of Illegal Deforestation and the Recovery of Native Vegetation is established by this Decree, comprising 12 articles. It sets the committee's composition, tasks, and responsibilities above, proposing planning, articulating, and integrating strategies to prevent and control illegal deforestation and native vegetation recovery (42). Forest legislation was identi ed by the (PPCDAm and PPCerrado) as a system of laws that govern the exploitation and utilization of forest resources. The plan aimed at protecting regions or resources in Brazil date back to the colonial period, with the primary goal of ensuring control over the management of certain features such as ora, water, and soil (43) Providing for the establishment of the Amazon Fund The Amazon Fund is a ground-breaking project for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) nance. The fund was established to gather non-reimbursable investments into deforestation prevention, monitoring, combat, conservation, and sustainable environment in Brazil (44). The Brazilian National REDD+ Strategy (ENREDD+) was approved at the end of 2015, with the overall goal of preventing illegal deforestation, promoting forest ecosystem conservation and restoration, and fostering a low-carbon, sustainable forest economy while providing environmental, social, and economic bene ts (44). Some of the Brazilian government's policies, strategies, and action plans in achieving low-carbon emission are presented in Table 2.  (45). Russia has been actively involved in international climate negotiations for more than two decades through the United Nations, the G8 and G20, and the BRICS bloc, including the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement's commitment to avoid "dangerous interference with the climatic system" and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 (46). Russia's Energy Strategy 2035, which was established in June 2020, aims to increase the country's fossil fuel industries, concentrating on natural gas production and exports. Russia's fuel and energy complex (FEC) will become the country's economic backbone during the next decade, while the worldwide surging renewable energy sector is the solution to CC. (45).
Russia's current 2030 emissions target (25-30% lower than 1990 levels) was deemed "Critically Insu cient" by the (35). Russia's classi cation would be raised from "Highly Insu cient" to "Highly Su cient," with a reduction of 33% below 1990 levels. Russia's NDC update should be much more ambitious if it plays a fair role in limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as shown in Figure 5. Three of the most recent policies outlined by Russia to reach LEC are discussed below: The Russian government approved a new Energy Strategy till 2035 in June 2020. The strategy said that one of Russia's primary objectives is to become a global leader in hydrogen production and export. It also set concrete export goals of 0.2 million tons by 2024 and 2 million tons by 2030. Energy (47). To meet these goals, the government plans to undertake the following measures (48): i. investments in hydrogen and hydrogen-based energy mix production, transportation, and consumption; ii. growth in natural gas-based hydrogen generation, including the use of renewable and nuclear energy; iii. development of Russian low-carbon technologies for producing hydrogen from methane pyrolysis, electrolysis, and other methods, including by the localization of foreign technologies; iv. internal market demand for hydrogen fuel cells in transportation, as well as the use of hydrogen and hydrogen-based energy mixes as energy storage and a conversion tool to increase the e ciency of centralized power supply systems; Approving the hydrogen roadmap 2021-2024 for Russia As governments and corporations worldwide (including many oil and gas giants) focus more intensely on energy transition, the commercialization of hydrogen technology might play a vital role in the global clean energy agenda. Russia recently released its hydrogen roadmap. The plan, which covers the years 2021-2024, is intended to be a rst step for the Russian government, industry, and institutions to better understand the potential of hydrogen and encourage the deployment of hydrogen pilot projects (49,50).
In addition to several organizational and regulatory steps, the hydrogen roadmap calls for the development of high-priority pilot hydrogen projects that include, among other things, pilot equipment for carbon-free hydrogen production is being developed, manufactured, and used. Gas turbine development, manufacture, and testing for methane-hydrogen fuel; prototyping a hydrogen-powered train transit system; construction of low-carbon hydrogen generation pilot sites at hydrocarbon processing plants or natural gas generating plants; Hydrogen production based on nuclear power (48). will take to "lower the population's, economies, and natural environment's susceptibility to climate change impacts." Furthermore, it identi es several potential opportunities that may arise due to climate change (51). This national plan lays out the economic and social measures that will be implemented by federal and regional executive bodies to reduce the vulnerability of the Russian population, economy, and natural resources to CC's effects, as well as seize the opportunities that such changes present. This authorized national plan is the rst step in adapting the economy and population to CC. It includes structural, organizational, and methodological strategies to help states build CC adaptation solutions (52). Some of the Russian government's policies, procedures, and action plans in achieving low-carbon emission are presented in Table 3. Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement of India India's Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has formed a high-level inter-ministerial Apex Committee for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement, con rming the country's commitment to "walk the walk" on CC (58). AIPA intends to provide a coordinated response to CC concerns to keep India on pace to meet its Paris Agreement obligations, especially its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). AIPA would also act as a National Authority to regulate carbon markets in India per Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. AIPA will also issue guidelines on carbon pricing, market mechanisms, and other similar instruments that affect CC and NDCs. It will assess the business sector's and multilateral agencies' contributions to CC and provide recommendations on better aligning their climate actions with national priorities. (58).
Three of the most recent policies outlined by Russia to reach LEC are discussed below: The Indian NDCs have three quantitative goals (58): By 2030, the intensity of gross domestic product emissions will be reduced by 33-35% compared to 2005 levels.
By 2030, non-fossil fuel-based electricity will account for 40% of total electricity generation.
Using afforestation programs to create a carbon sink of 2. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy created this program to assist farmers with nancial incentives to migrate from fossil fuel-powered pumps to new solar-powered machinery. The primary goal of this program is to make farmers economically self-su cient. Farmers will be allowed to set up solar plants on their farm's idle land either by themselves or in partnership with an investor under the initiative, allowing them to earn a regular income (59). The electricity generated will be acquired at or below the Electricity Regulatory Commission's set rates. Plants with capacities ranging from 500 KW to 2 MW are proposed as part of the program. Farmers with less land who want to reduce their reliance on agriculture would be the main benefactors of the scheme. The solar plant will continue to provide them with a steady stream of money (59).

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
The NAPCC addresses the urgent and critical concerns of the country through a directional shift in the development pathway, including the enhancement of the current and planned activities outlined in the technical document (60). The NAPCC also presents several steps to simultaneously advance India's development and CC-related objectives adaptation and mitigation. The NAPCC lists eight national climate change missions. (1) National Solar Mission (2) National Energy E ciency Mission (3) Table 4. In the 11 th Five-Year Plan (FYP), the emphasis on energy e ciency was maintained. At the commencement of the 12th FYP, this resulted in a signi cant realignment, including low-carbon, green, sustainable development, and market-based policies (62). The Chinese government has put forward various strategic plans to achieve LCE. These policies focus on energy saving, green infrastructure, renewable energy, and low-carbon cities. In 2007, the concept of "ecocivilization was proposed to achieve LCE in China (63). Three of the most recent policies outlined by China to reach LEC are discussed below: Pollution Control, Energy Conservation, and Carbon Reduction The National Development and Reform Commission drafted this legislation. It intends to improve internal investment management, reinforce and standardize the central budget for pollution control, energy conservation, and CO 2, and mobilize "social capital" to engage in pollution control, energy conservation, and CO 2 reduction. It is intended to take the place of the "Interim Measures for the Special Management of Investment in Ecological Civilization Construction within the Central Budget (69).
The initiative was designed to support the government's Air Pollution Control Action Plan and the 13 th FYP for Energy E ciency and Clean Energy (2016-2020), emphasizing lowering air pollution at its source through better energy e ciency and the expansion of clean energy. As part of the effort, green funding was mainstreamed in nancial institutions, assisting the government in meeting its objectives. Huaxia Bank, a commercial bank, received assistance from the industry to provide nancing to enterprises seeking to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions by improving energy e ciency, investing in clean energy, and strengthening air pollution controls. (70).

The 14th Five-Year Plan
The work report described the road to carbon neutrality by 2060 and peaking emissions by 2030, with China increasing up efforts to decarbonize its economy.
By 2021, the government has set a goal of reducing energy intensity by roughly 3%. Authorities intend to lower energy intensity by 13.5 % during the following ve years and carbon intensity by 18%. According to this report, an "action plan" for achieving peak carbon emissions will be established by the end of the (2) transition to an energy-e cient and low-carbon society with a convenient charging service network and battery electric vehicles as the mainstream in sales;

and
(3) improve national energy security and air quality, mitigate climate change, and stimulate economic growth (74). Some of the Chinese government's policies, strategies, and action plans in achieving low-carbon emissions are presented in Table 5. In light of the growing need for CO 2 emissions and realize the potential bene ts of a green-based society, the South African government has established plans to reduce carbon emissions by 34% and 42% by 2020 and 2025, respectively (75). Climate change has a signi cant in uence on South Africa, remarkably increasing temperatures and water variability. The rate of the warming recorded in the western and northeast have been 2 c per century or more, more than twice the worldwide temperature increases (76). By 2030, the National Development Plan (NDP) of South Africa intends to eradicate poverty, protect the environment, and promote economic development (77). South Africa is a signatory to the Paris Climate Change Agreement and has rati ed it. South Africa's emissions are predicted to peak, plateau, and then drop beginning in 2025. The energy industry is responsible for about 80% of the country's total GHG emissions, with power generation and liquid fuel production accounting for half of that (78). There is already investing in renewable energy, energy e ciency,

Integrated Resource Plan (IPR)
The IRP is a capacity plan for energy that attempts to estimate the country's electricity demand, how it will be supplied, and how much it will cost. On May 6, 2011, South Africa's then-Department of Energy (DoE) released the Integrated Resource Plan, which forecasted the country's estimated energy demand for the next 20 years, from 2010 to 2030. The Department of Energy envisioned the IRP as a "living plan" that would be revised regularly (82). According to the IRP, the Department of the Environment should modify the IRP at least every two years. However, this was never done, resulting in an insu cient energy mix to satisfy the constantly shifting demands. However, this was never done, resulting in an energy mix that did not su ciently help South Africa's continually changing supply and demand circumstances, nor did it re ect worldwide technological advances in energy-generating e ciency and responsibility (82). The 2010-2030 IRP assessed the preferred generation technology needed to ful ll predicted demand growth until 2030. Affordable power, reduced GHG emissions, decreased water use, diverse electrical generation sources, localization, and regional development were all included. Some of the South African government's policies, strategies, and action plans in achieving low-carbon emissions are presented in Table 6. This section discusses several strategies and recommendations for BRICS countries' pathway to LCE. (Figure 9). These strategies can also be applied at various scales towards CO2 emissions reduction in the BRICS countries. and retraining. An essential part of creating a transition strategy is identifying potential investors and entrepreneurs in the region who may be willing to make the most effective use of public nancing (84).

Focus on taxation extends beyond energy
The most commonly researched environmental tax mechanisms are taxes on particular activities or consumption that generate highly damaging emissions, e uents, or residues, such as energy taxes and the carbon tax (85). While subsidies and tax expenditures favoring the development and use of fossil fuels impede low-carbon innovation, the current low oil prices also present a chance for reforms. Also, the government in the BRICS regions can provide tax incentives and subsidies to organizations or entrepreneurs who go into green business. (86) noted that an economy-wide carbon tax and governments committing to global action to reduce CO 2 emissions are other ways to reduce cross-sectoral leakage in the economy.

Investment in Low-Carbon Cities
As a notion of urban development, low-carbon consumption and production in cities can help create more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly urban energy and ecological systems. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions and minimal energy use are required in low-carbon cities (87). Cities play a signi cant role in global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly urban regions, which account for 67-76% of worldwide CO 2 emissions and energy consumption (88). Cities have evolved into fundamental units for executing emissions-reduction measures. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions and low energy usage are required in low-carbon cities in addition to a focus on economic development. To establish a win-win situation between urbanization and environmental protection, traditional energy technologies should be changed and innovated to limit the consumption of high-carbon energy and the production of urban greenhouse gases (87). Therefore, the study recommends that various governments in the BRICS should invest more in low-carbon cities, leading them to LCE. (1) added that, after 2009, many cities released their low-carbon economic development implementation plans for low-carbon city construction. Low-carbon pilots, sponge cities, low-carbon community pilots, and national low-carbon city (town) pilots are primarily responsible for achieving low-carbon cities.

Adapting to Circular Economy and Low-carbon Technology
The circular economy is a business model that highlights the ecosystem's regenerative capacity by reducing non-renewable resource consumption, extending the usable life of commodities, and reusing all materials that enter the economic cycle to reduce waste and pollution (85). Low-carbon technology will become more widely used as solutions become more mature on the market. The transition to clean and secure electricity will lay the groundwork for end-use electri cation, a top priority (89). Low-carbon technology is one of the specialized techniques for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in buildings. Low-carbon technology emits the least amount of GHGs into the environment, speci cally CO 2 (90). Evaporative cooling, passive ventilation and cooling, solar photovoltaic, dehumidi cation, and energy recovery systems are examples of renewable and sustainable energy technologies (90).

The BRICS countries should revisit electricity markets
To achieve effective decarbonization of energy systems, electricity must be used. On the other hand, deregulated electricity markets do not provide the longterm price signal for investment in high-capital-cost, low-carbon technology. Newmarket arrangements, such as long-term supply agreements, as well as a robust and steady CO 2 price signal, will be needed to ensure competitive and timely investment in low-carbon solutions. To stimulate investment in low-carbon technologies, jurisdictions with regulated systems should consider providing more competition (83).
6. Promote climate-friendly international trade among BRICS countries Although the international trade regime does not restrict states from implementing aggressive climate measures, some international trade barriers can undercut climate goals. Import restrictions, for example, continue to penalize trade in some technologies required for the low-carbon transition. Many countries that are promoting greener growth by favoring domestic manufacturers of low-carbon technologies must exercise caution. Where these regulations impede international trade, they may have a negative impact on total investment and the adoption of sustainable technologies (83). BRICS countries' pathway to LCE can be successful through the promotion of climate-friendly trade among themselves.

Conclusion
The discussion above has shown that various governments in the BRICS countries have put measures to control CC and its consequence on people. All these policies are aimed at LCE, which is quite recommending. However, the critical issue that needs to be addressed is the implementation of such policies. This will require strict measures to monitor the practical evaluation of the plans and procedures in the BRICS countries to achieve the target of LCE. The study The raw material that the analysis is based on is available on the https://climateactiontracker.org/ database.  BRICS pathway to Low Carbon-environment