Germany and the defender of the Amazon

Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, is seen as a symbolic figure in the struggle to preserve the Amazon. An early environmental activist, she grew up on the edge of the rainforest and has been mobilising for its protection for decades. In advance of the COP30 World Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil, Silva has emphasised the significance of Germany as a partner in relation to climate change, even given a politically fragile world situation: “Germany and Brazil are leading by example: preserving our ties, bonds of friendship, trade and, above all, solidarity”, Silva said in a recent interview with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. This is felt to be “very important because we are also witnessing painful developments elsewhere, with the breakdown of historic cooperation, solidarity and partnerships”.

Ahead of the COP30 World Climate Conference, the Minister has made it clear that Germany is a significant partner for Brazil in combating climate change. Both countries have for instance been cooperating for decades to protect the rainforest. The Amazon rainforest plays a decisive role in terms of the world climate. Germany is one of the major contributors to the Amazon Fund for Forest Conservation and Climate Protection. It is considered to be the world’s largest financing mechanism for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. 

Marina Silva also draws attention to further challenges, such as the determined implementation of agreements already reached on climate protection at international level and on climate justice between the Global North and Global South. The world community should also address the expansion of renewable energies, increasing energy efficiency and a “just and planned transition away from fossil fuels”. 

Multifaceted cooperation with Germany 

The cooperation with Germany has long-term significance for the minister: “There must be reciprocal action, solidarity and partnership. And we can achieve this through technical cooperation, with the exchanges we manage to promote, or through cooperation in both financial and human resources.” This is reflected in an intensive German-Brazilian dialogue that extends from vocational education to exchange of climate experts. 

Click here for the interview with Marina Silva conducted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).