Berlin/Belem – While Brazil was angry over the diplomatic scandal caused by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (70, CDU), Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (49, SPD) announced a large amount of funding for the protection of the rainforest. Germany wants to pay one billion euros.
Germany wants to support a new tropical forest fund, officially called the “Forever Tropical Forest Facility” (TFFF), for ten years. This model envisions rewarding countries that protect their forests and punishing countries that destroy their forests. Satellite imagery should be used to monitor where deforestation is occurring.
Rainforests are huge carbon sinks: they store billions of tons of CO₂, thereby slowing global warming
A giant pot for the green lungs of the earth
The funds are allocated according to wishes Brazil 125 billion US dollars. About four billion dollars could be distributed annually – almost three times the amount currently allocated to forest protection worldwide. About 70 developing countries can benefit from this.
Norway wants to deposit three billion US dollars over ten years. Brazil and Indonesia each contributed one billion. The World Bank manages the money and distributes it to countries that have tropical forests. 20 percent is intended for indigenous communities.
Brazil was furious with Merz’s statement
For World Climate Conference Brazil has spruced up the city of Belem. The streets are updated, the houses are painted, the harbor is renovated. But poverty and dilapidated infrastructure continue to affect the cityscape in many places.
That’s the political issue: Chancellor Friedrich Merz caused a scandal with derogatory comments after his visit. He said none of his colleagues wanted to stay in Brazil.
At the COP30 world climate conference in Brazil there was still peace, joy and pancakes between Chancellor Friedrich Merz (70, CDU) and Brazilian head of state Lula da Silva
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (80) responded sharply: Merz should “go to the bar, dance and try local cuisine”. Then he would realize that “Berlin doesn’t even offer ten percent of the quality of Pará and Belém.” Brazilian media also spoke of “outrageous comparisons”. Belém’s mayor called Merz’s words “arrogant” and “biased.”
