- The BRICS alliance discusses environmental issues but most member countries rely heavily on fossil fuel sales.
- Nine out of 10 BRICS members sell fossil fuels; only Ethiopia lacks a fossil fuel industry.
- Several BRICS countries criticize U.S. authoritarianism despite having authoritarian regimes themselves.
- The bloc is described as presenting inconsistent messages regarding governance and environmental policies.
John Feffer, Director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, described the BRICS alliance as a “multipolarism of fools” in a recent opinion piece. At the 2025 summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the BRICS countries focused on climate change and the need for environmental protection. However, Feffer highlighted a contradiction: while promoting environmental conservation, most members continue to sell significant amounts of fossil fuels.
Out of the 10 countries in the alliance, nine engage in fossil fuel sales, which contribute to their economies. Ethiopia is the only member without a fossil fuel industry. Fossil fuel combustion releases greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change by affecting the atmosphere and water quality.
In addition to environmental concerns, Feffer pointed out that BRICS members often criticize U.S. authoritarianism, but many of these countries have authoritarian governments regulating media and suppressing free speech. Nations such as China, Russia, and Iran were noted for imposing strict controls on their populations while blaming the U.S. for similar issues.
Feffer stated that the alliance’s public statements do not align with their actions. He described BRICS as a group of predominantly authoritarian, environmentally unfriendly, and socio-economically conservative countries that claim to offer a geopolitical alternative but fail to meet their stated goals. According to Feffer, this discrepancy undermines the bloc’s credibility as an effective global counterbalance.
For more, see John Feffer’s detailed critique of the BRICS alliance.
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