Ahead of cop30 india says it will join global tropical forest protection initiative

Ahead of cop30 india says it will join global tropical forest protection initiative

At the Leaders’ Summit in Belem, Brazil, where heads of state have converged ahead of the climate conference beginning Monday, India said it would join the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) as an ‘Observer’.

The TFFF is the latest measure drummed up to incentivise global finance to invest in limiting net global carbon emissions. The plan is that countries with tropical forests are paid annually for keeping their forests standing. A secretariat called the TFFF and an investment fund called the Tropical Forest Investment Fund will invest sponsor money in emerging market bonds and avoid fossil fuels, coal, and any sector linked to deforestation.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called on world leaders to establish a roadmap to end dependence on fossil fuels, and honour international commitments by 2030 to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency.

Dinesh Bhatia, India’s Ambassador to Brazil, called TFFF a “significant step” towards collective and sustained global action for the preservation of tropical forests.

The TFFF offers a new, budget-neutral model of nature financing that rewards countries protecting forests yearly with $4 per hectare protected. Investors’ initial contributions are invested by the TFIF, and the returns on those investments are used to pay back the original investors in full.

Brazil, the COP30 host, has announced a $1 billion contribution, and Colombia has pitched in with $250 million. France, China, and the UAE have expressed support but have not made financial commitments.

It is essential for countries to leave Belém with NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) aligned with the 1.5°C mission committed to in Dubai, Mr. da Silva said.

The Brazilian President also launched the Belém commitment to quadruple the use of sustainable fuels by 2035 and emphasised the need for debt-for-climate swaps to support developing nations.

Among the leaders in attendance at the Summit were President Emmanuel Macron of France, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William of the United Kingdom,

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council António Costa, and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway.

Non-fossil power currently constituted 50% of installed capacity, enabling India to reach the revised 2030.

India had expanded its forest and tree cover, Mr. Bhatia said, and the additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent was created between 2005 and 2021. He reiterated India’s position that affordable finance, technology access, and capacity-building were essential for implementing ambitious climate targets in developing countries.