Luxembourg concludes the first edition of the International Climate Finance Days with strong global momentum and a historic commitment to forest finance.

From 3 to 5 June 2026, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity brought together key decision-makers for the first Luxembourg International Climate Finance Days (Luxembourg ICF Days). This event demonstrates how these ambitions have been put into practice, in this case concerning the protection of tropical forests.

A new platform for global climate finance

The first edition brought together over eighty speakers, forty international delegations and more than 2,000 participants across numerous events, confirming Luxembourg's role as a key hub for climate and sustainable finance. During sessions and bilateral meetings, representatives from governments, European institutions, international organisations and the private sector explored concrete solutions to scale up climate finance, mobilise private investment and strengthen international cooperation.

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, Serge Wilmes, and his delegation held approximately fifteen bilateral meetings, including with partners from Austria, Belgium, Lithuania and Vietnam, as well as with major international organisations, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), UNEP, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Conservation International.

These discussions highlighted both the strength of Luxembourg's international partnerships and the importance of further developing innovative collaborations. They also reinforced the relevance of Luxembourg's "nexus" approach, which aims to better link climate action, biodiversity protection, ecosystem resilience, and financing mechanisms within a single coherent framework.

Official launch of the third phase of the Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility – a successful partnership with the IUCN

Minister Wilmes has officially launched the third phase of the Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility (BNCFF), which supports the development of robust and sustainable projects in the field of blue natural capital, offering clear benefits for ecosystem services. This phase builds on lessons learned from previous phases and will focus on tailor-made local-level projects that will significantly improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations and strengthen the small-scale fishing sector.

Luxembourg supports the Tropical Forest Forever Facility

A key moment of the closing session was Luxembourg's announcement that it would join the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), an international initiative aimed at protecting tropical forests worldwide.

The TFFF is designed to make standing forests economically valuable by providing countries with predictable, long-term funding in exchange for conservation efforts. It uses capital markets to align economic development with environmental protection and ensures that at least 20 % of the funding benefits indigenous peoples and local communities.

In the presence of Ministers Gilles Roth and Serge Wilmes, as well as Norwegian State Secretary Kristoffer André Hansen, Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira announced that the transition committee had accepted Luxembourg's offer to host the financial arm of the initiative, the Tropical Forest Finance Facility (TFIF).

To help mobilise the wider financial ecosystem that this initiative deserves, Luxembourg will make a contribution of €50 million (2026-2030) through its Climate and Energy Fund. This initial investment will be followed by long-term annual support beyond 2030.

Minister Gilles Roth stated: "Tropical forests are essential to climate stability, biodiversity, and resilience. Their protection requires not only political ambition but also credible and scalable financial solutions."

"With the Tropical Forest Forever Fund, we have the opportunity to fill one of the most significant gaps in global climate change financing," added Minister Serge Wilmes. "We are proud to support an initiative that aims to create sustainable incentives for conservation and contribute to establishing a lasting financial framework for the protection of these vital ecosystems."

The Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, stated: "At a time when international cooperation is under pressure, the TFFF brings together countries from the North and South, as well as public and private actors, around a common goal: to give economic value to intact tropical forests. What started as a Brazilian proposal is becoming a truly global initiative – which will now establish a significant presence in Luxembourg by hosting its financial arm, the Tropical Forest Investment Fund."

The decision to host the TFIF in Luxembourg reflects the country's leading role in sustainable finance, as well as the reliable and efficient financial ecosystem it offers as one of the world's major financial centres.

Future prospects

The launch of the ICF Days marks a significant milestone for Luxembourg's international engagement in climate and nature finance. By bringing together global leaders and delivering concrete outcomes such as the TFFF commitment, Luxembourg is strengthening its role as a hub for sustainable finance and international cooperation.

The next edition will take place from 24 to 27 May 2027, building on this momentum to further advance global efforts on climate finance.

Press release from the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity