World at a crossroads to stop climate change, Germany's Merz says

BERLIN

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday urged wealthy industrialized nations to increase their contributions to the global fight against climate change.

"We are at a crossroads," Merz told an international climate summit in Brazil. "All countries with the economic resources and high emissions—and we are among them—should contribute to international climate finance," he said.

The German leader noted that his government allocated more than €6 billion ($7 billion) for climate action last year. He also announced Germany's support for the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) proposed by Brazil.

"We will contribute significantly to this initiative's success," he told participants at the Belem Climate Summit. "To achieve our climate goals, the tropical forest must be preserved while more private sector funding is mobilized. This can only succeed together with our partners in the Global South and North,” he said.

Merz reaffirmed his government’s commitment to national and EU climate targets and to achieving climate neutrality by 2045, in line with the Paris Agreement.

"We are relying on innovation and technology to address climate change successfully. Our economy is not the problem; our economy is the key to protecting our climate even better," he said. "We are developing new economic sectors and business models. And here, too, we are relying on the innovative strength of our economy."

Belem Climate Summit is a high-level gathering organized by Brazil. The summit came ahead of the COP30 climate change conference on Nov. 10-21.