COP30: Lula Meets Leaders from Germany, Portugal, and Mozambique
At the COP30 summit in Belém, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is continuing his bilateral meetings. Following discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Lula is set to meet leaders from Germany, Portugal, and Mozambique.
COP30: Lula’s Agenda with Global Leaders
On Friday, December 7, Lula’s schedule includes meetings with:
- Prime Minister of Germany, Friedrich Merz
- Prime Minister of Portugal, Luís Montenegro
- President of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo
These discussions are crucial as they center around combating climate change. Notably, Germany is expected to announce its support for the Forever Tropical Forests Fund (TFFF).
Forever Tropical Forests Fund (TFFF)
The TFFF aims to combine public and private investments to ensure that funds aid countries with tropical forests in their conservation efforts. So far, 34 nations, which cover nearly 90% of tropical forests in developing regions, have endorsed this initiative, including countries like Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and China.
The anticipated goal is to raise $25 billion during COP30 from investing countries. This amount is designed to stimulate private sector capital, ultimately aiming to gather $125 billion for tropical forest conservation.
Significant contributions have already been pledged:
- Brazil: $1 billion
- Norway: $3 billion over the next decade
- Indonesia: $1 billion
- France: up to $577 million by 2030
- Portugal: $1 million
Germany fully supports the TFFF and will discuss its financial commitment in a meeting with President Lula.
Bilateral Meetings Schedule
Lula’s meetings are structured as follows:
- Meeting with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro of Portugal in the late morning.
- Discussion with Prime Minister Friedrich Merz of Germany in the early afternoon.
- Scheduled meeting with President Daniel Chapo of Mozambique at 3 PM.
In previous discussions, Lula and Macron emphasized the importance of addressing climate change and protecting forests. They also talked about cooperation in defense, science, and technology.
Lula expressed hope to sign the Mercosur-EU agreement during Brazil’s presidency of the bloc this year. Earlier, he met with Prince William and Prime Minister Starmer, who reiterated the UK’s commitment to developing and supporting the TFFF.
The involvement of global leaders underlines a collective effort to tackle climate challenges and mobilize significant resources for forest preservation.
