Brazil–Germany Joint Statement on Climate Ambition and Action - Brasilia, 5 June 2023

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil and the Federal Foreign Office of Germany agreed on this Joint Statement on Climate Ambition and Action on the occasion of the visit of Annalena Baerbock, Federal Foreign Minister of Germany, to Brasilia, on 5 June 2023.

2. During the conversation with Maria Laura da Rocha, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, the two Ministries recognized the climate crisis as one of the defining foreign policy and global stability challenges of the current century, alongside growing inequalities, within and among countries. The climate crisis has been threatening the lives and livelihoods of more and more people, and impacting access to critical resources like food and water. At the same time curbing the climate crisis can limit these risks and create opportunities for new prosperity. The Ministries coincide in the understanding that a stable climate is a precondition for future development and prosperity, and acknowledge sustainable development and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a key conducer for the climate-neutral and climate-resilient future we want.

3. Committed to the values of multilateralism, international law, peace and cooperation, the Ministries of Brazil and Germany ascertain the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement adopted thereunder as critical and unifying pillars of our common future. In that sense, the reduction of inequalities, within and among countries, and the fight against climate change should be seen as a collective response to the reality of multiple crises, while contributing to overcoming political polarization, easing geo-economic tensions, and uniting the international community around a common mission and destiny.

4. The Ministries assert that international cooperation on a just transition to climate neutrality and resilience, including collective efforts to shifting to clean energy and reversing deforestation, should go hand in hand with promoting justice, ending poverty and eradicating hunger – and limiting the devastating climate impacts that threaten to undermine these goals.

5. The two Ministries express concern that the world is not on track to limiting the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Acknowledging both countries as bridge-builders working to find common ground across their respective coalitions and negotiating groups, the Ministries of Brazil and Germany agree that a course correction is needed which limits the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. They also agree that this will only be possible if the international community work together and align efforts, with a view to building a common future of equitable, resilient and shared prosperity for humankind, while leaving no one behind.

6. Both Ministries pledge to strengthen their exchange on and cooperation in key multilateral and climate-relevant fora through the 2023-2025 stretch, including during Brazil’s presidency of the G20, in 2024, and decide to establish a high level strategic dialogue on climate action and ambition, taking into consideration the gravity and sense of urgency emanated from the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). Noting the importance of scientific institutions and civil society in shaping an evidence-based, people-centered transition, the Ministries also decide to establish a Track 1.5 dialogue.

7. Brazil and Germany are committed to working together in achieving a successful outcome to the first Global Stocktake (GST) of the Paris Agreement at COP28, in Dubai, later this year. Such an outcome should effectively identify the existing ambition and implementation gaps and elaborate solutions and opportunities for enhanced action, support and international cooperation to address and bridge them. The GST will be fundamental to inform countries in presenting their next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) for 2035 in 2025 with a view to COP30, as well as in enhancing NDCs and their implementation in the critical decade for action until 2030. In that regard, Minister Baerbock welcomed the Brazilian candidacy to host COP30, which is a clear sign of Brazil’s commitment to contributing to a most needed course correction in the global response to climate change.