Chancellor Merz caused outrage in Brazil: his statements about Belem during COP30 were criticized as disrespectful and arrogant. The governor and mayor accused him of prejudice. Meanwhile, Environment Minister Schneider tried to smooth things over by praising the city.
Belem, location of the current World Climate Conference, is a place where you wouldn’t want to live at all? This proposal from Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) caused a stir not only in the Brazilian media, but also among politicians there. They considered the Chancellor’s comments rude. Meanwhile, Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) tried to smooth things over by expressing his appreciation.
Merz caused outrage in Brazil
He asked several journalists who accompanied him to Brazil, who would like to live there. “They are all happy that we are back in Germany from where we were there on the night of Friday to Saturday,” Merz said in his speech to businessmen.
The Brazilian media gradually became aware of this statement and reported it. The Chancellor’s remarks were considered impolite and arrogant. Brazilian politicians are now also reacting.
Brazilian politicians reacted sharply
Belém Mayor Igor Normando commented in a video message
Governor Barbalho called for “fewer promises” and more “real support for those who protect forests.” Brazil, with its vast forests in the Amazon, launched a tropical forest protection fund, called TFFF, at COP30. Merz had promised a “significant” amount for this in his speech in Belém, but to the disappointment of many, he did not provide a specific figure.
This year, countries will gather at the UN Climate Change Conference in Belem to discuss the global fight against the climate crisis.
FOCUS Earth reports online for you on COP30: You can follow all the important developments, background information and latest updates here on the ticker.
Belém was chosen by host country Brazil to host COP30 because the city is located at the mouth of the Amazon River and therefore forest protection as an important climate protection measure received more attention in international negotiations.
Belém is the capital of the state of Pará. The city, which has a warm and humid tropical climate, is home to 1.4 million people, more than half of whom live in poor, densely populated neighborhoods known in Brazil as favelas. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, this figure is the highest among large cities in Brazil.
Schneider tried to calm down
There was previously widespread criticism that Belém did not offer enough overnight accommodation for the approximately 44,000 COP30 participants. Hotel prices during the two week conference were horrendous. However, Brazil’s head of state Lula has always defended the decision and supported the Amazon city. “We want people to see the real situation of our forests, our rivers, the people who live here,” he said before the World Climate Change Conference.
Federal Environment Minister Schneider used his trip to Belém at the weekend to get to know the city and its forest environment and make contact with the community before taking part in negotiations.
In his speech at the conference’s plenary session on Monday, Schneider began by explicitly praising the COP hosts. “And the great people of Brazil have won my heart with their warm hospitality,” he added in his speech, delivered in English, before ending with the words “Viva Amazonia” celebrating the host region.
