As part of the UN climate conference in Brazil, the federal government pledged one billion euros to a global forest protection fund. Former Minister of State for Culture Roth criticized the number as too low. Other states pay “three times as much.”
Green Party politician Claudia Roth criticized Germany’s contribution of one billion euros to protect rainforests as insufficient. This amount is “too little because the money is spread over ten years,” Roth told “Augsburger Allgemeine.” Other countries are doing “three times as much,” Roth said, referring to Norway, and other countries. He accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) of abdicating Germany’s leadership role in climate protection.
“The chancellor came to Brazil, made no announcement, insulted the host and left again after twelve hours,” Roth criticized the CDU leader after his remarks about the location of the Belem climate conference. “Merz damaged Germany’s reputation and our credibility,” he added.
“This is a step backwards,” lamented Mojib Latif
Climate researcher Mojib Latif also called for Germany to be more committed to switching away from fossil fuels. Aid for the rainforest is true, but it doesn’t do much good, Latif told the newspaper. “Regarding the rainforest and the funding of this fund, there is a rather strange perception in Germany,” he explains.
Land use changes, including rainforest deforestation, “account for only about ten percent of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.” In contrast, about “90 percent comes from fossil fuels.” “So you’re not going to save the climate. Despite the fact that a billion dollars in ten years isn’t much.”
He wants “Germany to show clearly that it is sticking to its original climate goals – even if the US is not participating at the moment,” Latif said. “For example, society is questioning the end of the internal combustion engine and wants to build more gas-fired power plants. This is a step backwards.”
At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil, the federal government pledged one billion euros to the TFFF global forest protection fund. Germany will contribute this amount over the next ten years, Federal Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan and Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider of the SPD announced on Wednesday evening in Belém. The Forever Tropical Forest Facility (TFFF) provides financial rewards to countries that preserve their rainforests.
AFP/doli
