Brazil pledges $1 billion to tropical forest fund

September 24, 2025

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced a landmark $1 billion pledge to the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), a new international fund aimed at protecting endangered tropical forests. The announcement was made during a United Nations event in New York, positioning Brazil as the first nation to contribute financially to the initiative.

This investment underscores Brazil’s climate leadership ahead of COP30, the UN climate summit set to take place in Belém, in the Amazon region, this November.

Brazil takes the lead in climate finance

President Lula emphasized Brazil’s commitment to driving global forest conservation efforts, urging both developed and developing nations to match Brazil’s ambition:

“Brazil will lead by example. I invite all partners present to put forward equally ambitious contributions so that the TFFF can become operational at COP30.”

The Brazilian government hopes this early pledge will inspire wealthy nations, emerging economies, and private investors to contribute, bridging long-standing funding gaps in international climate policy.

Global reactions to Brazil’s climate initiative

Brazil’s bold move resonated strongly with international leaders.

• Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, UAE Special Envoy for Nature, praised the initiative as a “turning point” and highlighted it as a Global South–led innovation in climate finance.

• Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, Norway’s Climate and Environment Minister, applauded Brazil’s pledge and called for rapid expansion of donor countries to maximize the TFFF’s impact.

Initial signals of support have already come from China, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, according to insiders familiar with negotiations.

The vision: a $125 billion endowment for forest protection

The Tropical Forests Forever Facility is designed as a $125 billion climate fund, blending public and private investments. The model functions like an endowment, providing countries with annual payments based on the size of their preserved tropical forests.

To reach this ambitious target:

• Governments and major philanthropies are expected to contribute the first $25 billion.

• This seed funding is projected to attract an additional $100 billion from private investors, according to preliminary estimates.

Why this matters

With deforestation threatening biodiversity, carbon storage, and global climate stability, Brazil’s leadership could be a catalyst for transformative climate finance. By spearheading the TFFF, Brazil is signaling that tropical forest nations can drive the climate agenda while also demanding stronger commitments from wealthier economies.