UK government split over cost of COP30 forest pledge

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on POLITICO or enjoy below: 

🗞️ Driving the news: The UK government is internally divided over whether to financially support the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), a $125 billion climate finance initiative set to launch at COP30 in Brazil
• While senior ministers including Ed Miliband and David Lammy are supportive, Treasury officials are resisting new spending commitments amid domestic fiscal pressures, risking Prime Minister Keir Starmer attending the summit without a confirmed UK contribution

🔭 The context: TFFF is the flagship initiative of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's COP30 agenda, aimed at mobilising long-term financing to preserve tropical forests by offering financial returns to donor governments and private investors
• Brazil has pledged $1 billion and is courting allies—including the UK—for significant contributions
• The UK helped establish the TFFF and sits on its interim steering committee, but internal government disagreements now threaten its leadership role

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The protection of tropical forests is among the most effective climate solutions available, given their role in carbon storage, biodiversity preservation, and regulating weather systems
• A strong UK commitment would signal credibility and alignment with global forest finance efforts
• Conversely, hesitation may erode trust and delay urgently needed funding flows, potentially weakening COP30’s ambition and the scaling of market-based forest protection mechanisms

⏭️ What's next: With COP30 less than a month away, and the UK Autumn Budget due imminently, a final decision will depend on whether Starmer intervenes to prioritise the TFFF ahead of domestic fiscal concerns
• Other major economies, including China and the UAE, are reportedly watching the UK’s position before making their own commitments
• The scale and timing of the UK's pledge could influence the success of Lula’s global forest finance push

💬 One quote: “At the end of the day... there is a big question on the table: What is going to be the UK’s offer?” — Clement Metivier, Senior Adviser, WWF

📈 One stat: The TFFF aims to mobilise $125 billion in forest finance, with $1 billion already pledged by Brazil and $1 billion previously envisioned from the UK

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