COP30 launches tropical forest fund amid US absence and global climate tensions

The COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, has unveiled a landmark global initiative to reward countries for preserving tropical forests, while diplomats also expressed concern over the possible disruption of talks by the absent United States.

The Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), endorsed by 53 countries, aims to provide performance-based payments to nations that successfully maintain their forest cover. Satellite monitoring and other verification tools will ensure transparency and accountability. The initiative targets tropical forest nations, including Brazil, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, though India has not yet formally endorsed the facility.

The fund is structured as a blended finance mechanism, drawing on public, private, and sovereign capital. Its investment arm, the Tropical Forest Investment Fund (TFIF), will invest in sustainable assets, excluding fossil fuels and deforestation-linked industries. Returns will both repay investors and create long-term funds to reward forest-conserving countries. Importantly, at least 20 percent of funds will go directly to Indigenous peoples and local communities, recognising their central role in forest protection.

Financial commitments announced include: Norway - USD 3 billion over 10 years; Brazil and Indonesia - USD 1 billion each; Portugal - USD 1 million; Netherlands - USD 5 million for the secretariat; France - considering up to USD 576 million by 2030; Germany - full political endorsement. Several other nations, including China and the UAE, have expressed political support but not yet confirmed contributions. Beyond government donations, the initiative may also leverage private sector investments, carbon credit schemes, and international development financing.

While the TFFF launch was hailed as a major step in the economics of conservation, diplomats at COP30 voiced concerns over the absence of high-level US officials. The White House has said it will not send senior representatives, with President Donald Trump reiterating climate change as a “con job” at the UN General Assembly. However, the US could still send negotiators during the talks from November 10 to 21, ahead of its formal exit from the Paris Agreement in January.

European officials said they are preparing for multiple scenarios, including the possibility of US efforts to block agreements or stage side events to oppose climate policies. Norway’s climate minister noted past US interventions at the International Maritime Organization as a warning of potential disruption. Meanwhile, China is filling the gap, emphasizing its support for multilateral climate action and seeking to maintain momentum on green transition and low-carbon technology.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called the TFFF launch “an unprecedented initiative”, placing the Global South at the centre of the global forest agenda. Hosting the announcement in the Amazon symbolically underscores the world’s commitment to rainforest protection despite geopolitical tensions.

COP30 will address a broad range of climate issues, including finance, biodiversity, and extreme weather, testing whether countries can advance collective climate action even without full US participation.