Overview
- Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said Germany will join the Tropical Forest Forever Facility with a substantial contribution but has not set an amount.
- He explained that federal budget law obliges the government to secure counter-financing before announcing a sum, a process he said is underway.
- Schneider noted the fund is slated to start in one to two years, reducing immediate pressure to finalize pledges.
- The Brazil-backed facility rewards countries for preserving rainforests and imposes penalties for each hectare destroyed, a showcase initiative for President Lula at COP30.
- Expectations for a sizable German pledge rose after Chancellor Friedrich Merz signaled a notable contribution, while Schneider highlighted Germany’s broader climate commitments including the EU 2040 goal and the 2045 net-zero law.