Resistance in the Union faction against rainforest financing

Berlin. There is resistance in the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag against a financial commitment from the federal government for the preservation of the rainforests. “It is difficult to politically convey such a far-reaching commitment of resources to the German population - especially in times when we have to announce noticeable and tough austerity measures to citizens at home,” said CDU MP Andreas Mattfeldt to “Bild”.

The tropical fund was launched at the World Climate Conference in Brazil in November. Countries that preserve their forests should be rewarded according to the new model. Conversely, they should pay a fine for every hectare of forest destroyed. This would be checked using satellite images.

Initially, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) announced a “significant sum” for the new fund. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider and Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan (both SPD) later specified that the federal government wanted to give one billion euros over a period of ten years.

Mattfeldt now complained that, unlike other donor states, Germany had not linked its commitment to clear conditions. The specific design and structures of the fund remain unclear. Environmentalists also called for clear guidelines for the fund at the climate conference. Mattfeldt, who sits on the Bundestag's budget committee, announced that he would "strongly advocate for a comprehensive blocking of these funds" in the deliberations.

Deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer said it was normal for federal government decisions to be discussed and changed by parliament. But he also emphasized that the federal government supports the fund. "Chancellor Merz has also pledged one billion euros as Germany's contribution to the tropical forest fund. We as the federal government stand by this."

The Green budget politician Jamila Schäfer reacted sharply to Mattfeldt. “The fact that parts of the Union are questioning Germany’s commitment to the international rainforest fund after the election debacle in Saxony-Anhalt is emblematic of the Union’s extremely dangerous strategic vacuum: Where its own answers are missing, it is increasingly adopting the interpretations of the problem by right-wing populism,” she told the German Press Agency in Berlin. “Blocking funds for rainforest protection for short-sighted and wrong strategic considerations weakens one of the most effective levers of global climate protection and Germany’s international reliability,” complained Schäfer.

Rainforests are considered the “green lungs of the earth” because they bind large amounts of climate-damaging greenhouse gases, cool the climate through the evaporation of water and are also home to many animal and plant species. In many places they are threatened by deforestation to create agricultural or pasture land or to mine gold.