Germany will announce its pledge to Brazil’s Tropical Forest Forever Facility within days, Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said at COP30 in Belém. The TFFF aims to mobilize $125 billion and could disburse about $4 billion annually after start-up. So far Brazil and Indonesia have pledged $1 billion each, and Norway plans $3 billion over 10 years. Environmental groups are urging Germany to match partner contributions as expectations rise following Chancellor Merz’s promise of a "substantial sum."
Germany to Reveal Pledge to Lula’s Rainforest Fund at COP30 as Pressure Mounts
Germany will announce its pledge to Brazil’s Tropical Forest Forever Facility within days, Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said at COP30 in Belém. The TFFF aims to mobilize $125 billion and could disburse about $4 billion annually after start-up. So far Brazil and Indonesia have pledged $1 billion each, and Norway plans $3 billion over 10 years. Environmental groups are urging Germany to match partner contributions as expectations rise following Chancellor Merz’s promise of a "substantial sum."
01:08 AM, 11/17/2025Environment
Germany to announce contribution to Brazil's Tropical Forest Forever Facility
Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said Germany will announce the size of its contribution to Brazil’s new rainforest fund within days, after arriving in Belém for the final week of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30).
Berlin has pledged support for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), an initiative designed to financially reward nations for protecting their tropical forests as part of global efforts to curb deforestation.
"I have been holding talks on this in Berlin over the last few days and I hope that we will be able to say exactly how much money will be involved in the very near future," Schneider said. "But you can rest assured that if Germany does this, it will be done properly."
Expectations at the summit are high after Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who visited last week, pledged that Germany would provide a "substantial sum." Environmental groups have urged Berlin to match the contribution announced by close partner Norway.
The TFFF has a target volume of $125 billion and, according to Brazil’s estimates, could disburse about $4 billion a year after an initial start-up period — roughly three times the current annual international financing for forests. So far, Brazil and Indonesia have each committed $1 billion, and Norway has signalled intent to provide $3 billion over 10 years.
Schneider’s first day in Belém included visits to local Amazon projects and businesses. Officials demonstrated traditional rubber tapping and the harvesting of açaí berries, and he toured a park initiative financed by Germany, highlighting the fund’s links to community livelihoods and sustainable land use.
Why it matters: A German pledge would strengthen momentum for large-scale international financing to protect tropical forests, potentially unlocking additional commitments and demonstrating how donor countries can back pay-for-performance mechanisms to reduce deforestation.