Another boost on the road to Paris
Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks welcomes the agreement reached between Germany and Brazil on climate change. "The Joint Statement on Climate Change signed by Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, is a turning point. For the first time, an industrialised country and an emerging economy have made a commitment to work together towards achieving the goal of decarbonising the global economy in the course of this century. This Joint Statement has given a much needed boost to preparations for the climate summit in Paris. It sends a clear message worldwide that we are serious about maintaining the two degree limit."
The first section of the Brazilian-German Joint Statement on Climate Change lists common goals for the climate agreement due to be adopted at the end of the year in Paris. Both countries are in favour of an effective agreement that requires all countries to strengthen their efforts on a regular basis. The transformation towards low-carbon development in developing countries will also be supported financially by enhanced South-South cooperation initiatives.
The second section sets out specific targets and cooperation agreements aimed at driving forward the urgently needed transformation towards a climate neutral world. Federal Environment Minister Hendricks, who participated in the German-Brazilian intergovernmental consultations and was in negotiations with her Brazilian counterpart Isabella Texeira in the run-up to the consultations, commented: "Our countries have sent a clear message of support for an ambitious agreement in Paris and future efforts in the fight against climate change. Now we must work on implementing these goals and bringing them to life."
The Statement puts particular emphasis on forest conservation and renewable energies. By reducing deforestation, especially in the Amazon region, Brazil is making an important contribution to global climate action. Brazil wants to build on its successes in the field of forest conservation by extending the largest protected forest area for tropical forests in the Amazon region by over 60 million hectares, taking more decisive action against illegal deforestation and effectively promoting the creation of 12 million hectares of forest across the country.
Brazil announced that renewable energies will play a much stronger role in the energy sector. The share of renewable energies will be increased beyond the current share of hydropower to include wind and solar energy in particular.
The German-Brazilian intergovernmental consultations were held for the first time this year and highlighted the importance of cooperation between the two countries. Germany and Brazil have enjoyed a long tradition of successful cooperation on climate action and biodiversity conservation.
On the fringes of the intergovernmental consultations, experts from the German-Brazilian Working Group on Climate Change selected new climate action projects. The Federal Environment Ministry (BMUB) will be supporting new projects in Brazil with a total of 32.4 million euros through its International Climate Initiative. This too is a sign of a close, constructive cooperation between both countries in the area of climate action.