Germany steps up its global efforts for nature

In a joint press release of the 17^th October, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) announced that with the 1.36 billion euros provided in 2023, the volume of funding for international biodiversity projects had risen by 450 million euros compared 2022. The money is being used to contribute to countries’ efforts world-wide to protect, restore and sustainably manage peatlands, forests, oceans and other vital ecosystems.

These natural areas have immense carbon storage capacity and are crucial for mitigating climate change and halting biodiversity loss, say the two ministries. Moreover, they provide livelihoods for local communities. Germany is a reliable partner in this context. The support that it has provided so far is lending momentum to the World Nature Conference in Cali, Colombia, taking place from the 21^st October to the 1^st November.

The funds for international biodiversity conservation are part of the German government’s international climate finance, because most investments in species and ecosystems also help with protecting the climate or adapting to the climate crisis. In 2022, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a commitment for Germany that by 2025, it would increase its international biodiversity financing to 1.5 billion euros a year. The 1.36 billion euros made available in 2023 shows that the German government has taken a step towards meeting its commitment.

The two ministries state in their press release that conserving nature whilst managing it sustainably also requires a major global effort and the mobilisation of funds from all sources – international and national, public and private. That is why the German government will continue to lobby at the World Nature Conference for strong economies which have not been part of the traditional donor community so far and for private actors to contribute to global biodiversity protection, thus making sure that the responsibility is shouldered by more players.

In 2023, 1.04 billion euros in budget funds went into projects that the BMZ had agreed with its partner countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and also into contributions to multilateral climate and environmental funds and development banks. This is an increase of more than 340 million euros compared with the previous year. One reason for this rise in funding is that the Ministry, in collaboration with its partners, has now made sure that the protection and sustainable use of nature is also an integral part of agricultural and urban development projects right from the start.

Activities within the international Climate Initiative
 

With the funds, the BMZ supports, for instance, more than 900 protected areas globally, which together cover an area of 2.5 million square metres. It also backs Afro-European business partnerships that harness local biodiversity and its sustainable management, for instance by using natural raw materials and ingredients for high-quality food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. This benefits not only the environment but also local communities, including Indigenous Peoples, who play a significant role in the conservation of biodiversity whilst very much depending on intact ecosystems, notes the BMZ. Through its multilateral activities, the BMZ is also able to bring its influence to bear on the work of international organisations, such as the World Bank, getting them to put a stronger focus on nature conservation.

Overall, 313 million euros of the aforementioned funding came from the International Climate Initiative (ICI), which is being coordinated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and implemented by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and the Federal Foreign Office (AA). This is an increase of more than 108 million euros compared with the previous year.

The ICI provides funding for projects to promote climate and biodiversity protection in developing countries and emerging economies. For instance, it supports countries in the implementation of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

Furthermore, 9.5 million euros in funding came from the BMUV; these funds are used, for example, to finance the participation of representatives of developing and emerging economies in Conferences of the Parties, or for the fight against poaching.

(BMZ/wi)

More information:

Link to the COP16: The United Nations Biodiversity Conference

Link to BMZ paper: Protecting biodiversity – ensuring survival