Rising greenhouse gasses (GHGs) emissions and growing economic inequalities have emerged as key challenges for policymakers over the past two decades and the problems are likely to intensify in the foreseeable future. Numerous studies in the past have examined the relationship between these and implications on growth and equity of nations. Contributing to this literature, the present paper examines cross country differences within the BRICS economies in historical GHGs emission from 1991 to 2018 and analyzes the relationship between income inequality and emission levels and productivity. Additionally, we also inspect the role of energy use, equity and emission intensity. In doing so, data from the World Development Indicators (WDI) is used for clusters of countries while also estimating sector specific trends in GHGs emissions for priority sectors such as agriculture and industry. The hypothesis is to validate whether economic growth improves the trade off with equity, and vice-versa. With the Paris Agreement (COP21) making veiled reference to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) in tackling global warming the findings from the analysis would also signal towards efficacy of the targets set under the intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs).