Germany commits €1 billion to flagship COP30 forest fund

After two weeks of indecision and back-and-forths with Brazil, Germany has agreed to invest 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, or TFFF, the forest investment fund designed by the South American nation, Brazil’s environment and climate change minister told reporters. “We are happy that Germany made the announcement of its contribution,” Marina Silva said on Wednesday evening. The Brazilian announcement was a departure from previous commitments, which came directly from the investing countries. “With the TFFF, Brazil is taking a new, innovative approach, which we support,” German development minister Reem Alabali Radovan and German environment minister Carsten Schneider wrote to a small group of reporters after the announcement. “It’s about protecting the tropical rainforests, the lungs of our planet. Therefore, Germany will contribute one billion euros to this fund over the next 10 years.” TFFF is an investment fund hosted at the World Bank that aims to attract an initial $25 billion from governments and other potential sponsors, using it to encourage a further $100 billion from the private sector, which will receive returns first. The total $125 billion will be reinvested, primarily into bonds from emerging markets and other high-yielding securities, returning capital to investors with interest while channeling funds to tropical forest governments — such as Colombia, Peru, and Indonesia — with deforestation rates of 0.5%. Indigenous groups must receive 20% of that country’s income. Germany’s slow commitment was widely discussed during the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP30. Its government had backed Brazil on TFFF from the outset, and many familiar with the facility expected Germany to be among the first investors. But when other countries announced during the Leaders’ Summit a week before COP30 kicked off, Germany remained silent. Brazil, Indonesia, Norway, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands committed a total of $5.5 billion. Even Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest, founder of the Minderoo Foundation and the Fortescue Metals Group mining company, announced a $10 million contribution — though it remains unclear whether it will go towards the higher-risk $25 billion tranche or fall under the $100 billion expected from private investors. However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the government would commit a “significant” amount, offering no details on size or timing. Who has invested so far Germany’s pledge will add to the previously committed total of $5.5 billion by the other nations. Norway’s promise to invest $3 billion over 10 years is subject to final adjustments to the financial model and to other countries providing at least $9.8 billion in 2026. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Norway’s share cannot exceed 20% of the total junior debt tranche — the fund’s riskier layer. Brazil reaffirmed the $1 billion commitment it announced during the U.N. General Assembly. Indonesia also committed $1 billion. In a small surprise, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced a $1 million investment despite not being on the speakers' list. France promised $570 million, and the Netherlands donated $5 million for the TFFF secretariat — not as an investment.