In the run-up to the 30th UN Climate Conference (COP 30) in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025, the protection of tropical rainforests is once again moving to the forefront of international climate diplomacy. With the proposal of a Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), a new approach is emerging to mobilize long-term international funding specifically for the preservation of these unique ecosystems. Alongside the Amazon and Southeast Asia, the Congo Basin in Central Africa—home to the world’s second-largest contiguous tropical rainforest—is one of the planet’s so-called “green lungs.” All of these regions are severely threatened by deforestation and illegal resource extraction, while funding for sustainable development strategies remains insufficient. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, USD 66.8 billion per year will be required by 2030 solely for the protection and restoration of tropical forests and for supporting the livelihoods of local populations; achieving the global targets for climate, biodiversity, and restoration will require an additional USD 216 billion annually. In view of the sudden withdrawal of the U.S. development agency USAID—which had provided significant resources for rainforest protection—as well as increasing global pressure on public budgets, new solutions such as the TFFF are urgently needed in order to safeguard Africa’s green lung and other tropical forests.
Could the upcoming conference in Belém be the last opportunity for the international community to set the right course? What is the situation in the Congo Basin on the eve of COP 30, and what are the consequences of the withdrawal of key funding partners on the ground? How can Germany and Europe contribute to a sustainable financing architecture? And what innovative yet feasible measures and partnerships could help to close the existing gaps? In short: What would a successful, forward-looking climate conference look like?
We discussed these and other questions with Dr. Christian Ruck, Advisor to the Congo Basin countries in preparation for the 30th UN Climate Conference on behalf of the German Federal Government, as part of this edition of DAS Thema aktuell.
Speakers:
Dr. Christian Ruck, Advisor to the Congo Basin countries for the UN Climate Conference
Since 2025, Dr. Christian Ruck has served as Advisor to the Congo Basin countries, preparing them for the 30th UN Climate Conference on behalf of the German Federal Government. From 2020 to 2023, he was the Facilitator of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership. Before taking on senior positions for the German development bank KfW in Cameroon and Tanzania from 2014 to 2019, Dr. Ruck was a member of the German Bundestag for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group from 1990 to 2023, serving, among other roles, as deputy chairman and development policy spokesperson for his parliamentary group.
Moderator:
Sabine Odhiambo, Secretary-General, German Africa Foundation