Brazil’s Climate Plan: Pay Nations to Keep Trees, Give 20% to Tribes

Brazil has unveiled a comprehensive plan at the Belem climate summit to tackle deforestation, based on two key pillars: paying nations to preserve their forests and empowering Indigenous communities. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s “Tropical Forests Forever Facility” is at the center of the talks.
The fund, which has already drawn $5.5 billion in pledges, would pay 74 developing countries to keep their trees standing. This aims to make preservation more profitable than the industries, like cattle ranching and mining, that thrive on deforestation.
Crucially, the fund’s rules mandate that 20 percent of the money goes directly to Indigenous peoples. This allocation recognizes the tribes as the most effective and long-term stewards of these lands. A large contingent of Indigenous leaders is expected to participate in the talks.
The financial mechanism itself is new, relying on interest-bearing loans from wealthy nations and investors rather than aid. This model is intended to provide a more sustainable and large-scale source of funding.
The proposal comes at a critical moment. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of “deadly negligence” and “fossil fuel interests” derailing the 1.5-degree climate goal. Furthermore, the absence of leaders from the US, China, and India shows the political divisions that this new fund must overcome.