Brazilian Officials Condemn Merz’s Belém Comment as Germany Prepares to Detail Amazon Fund Pledge

Overview

• In a speech at the German Retail Congress, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his group was happy to leave Belém after COP30, a remark recorded in an official transcript and reposted by organizers.
• Belém’s mayor Igor Normando called the comment “unfortunate, arrogant and prejudiced,” and Pará governor Helder Barbalho labeled it a “prejudiced speech” that disrespects the Amazon and its people.
• Brazilian social media users flooded Merz’s official accounts with critical messages and memes, turning the episode into a trending online protest.
• Germany’s environment minister Carsten Schneider posted praise of Brazil and Belém in Portuguese, an overt bid to cool tempers during the summit.
• Merz pledged a significant but unspecified sum for the Tropical Forests Forever Fund, and Schneider said Germany will announce the figure in the coming days, while Brazilian political actors used the dust‑up to advance competing narratives about COP30.