Luxembourg concludes inaugural International Climate Finance Days with strong global momentum and landmark forest finance commitment

From 3 to 5 June 2026, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity brought together key decision-makers for the inaugural Luxembourg International Climate Finance Days (Luxembourg ICF Days). The event shows how ambitions were put into practice, in this case with regard to the protection of rainforests.

A new platform for global climate finance

The inaugural edition brought together over eighty speakers, forty international delegations, and more than 2,000 participants across numerous events, thereby confirming Luxembourg’s role as a key convening platform for climate and sustainable finance. Across thirty-one 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.

Luxembourg’s minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, Serge Wilmes and his delegation held fifteen bilateral meetings, notably 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 seeks to better connect climate action, biodiversity protection, ecosystem resilience and financing mechanisms into one coherent framework.

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

Minister Wilmes 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 learnt from previous phases and will focus on tailor-made projects at local level which will significantly improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations and strengthen the small-scale fisheries sector.

Luxembourg to support Tropical Forest Forever Facility

The highlight of the closing session was Luxembourg’s announcement to 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 financing in exchange for conservation efforts. It leverages capital markets to align economic development with environmental protection and ensures that at least 20% of funding benefits indigenous peoples and local communities.

In the presence of Ministers Gilles Roth and Serge Wilmes, and Norway’s State Secretary Kristoffer André Hansen, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira announced that the transitional committee accepted the offer of Luxembourg to host the financial arm of the initiative, the Tropical Forest Investment Fund (TFIF).

To help unlock the broader financial ecosystem that this initiative deserves, Luxembourg will contribute €50 million (2026–2030) through its Climate and Energy Fund. This initial investment will be followed up by long-term annual support beyond 2030.      

Minister Gilles Roth stated: “Tropical forests are critical for climate stability, biodiversity and resilience. Protecting them requires not only political ambition, but also credible and scalable financial solutions.”

“With the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, we have an opportunity to address one of the most significant gaps in global climate finance,” added Minister Serge Wilmes. “We are proud to support an initiative that seeks to create lasting incentives for conservation and to help build a durable financial framework for protecting these vital ecosystems.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Mauro Vieira noted “At a time when international cooperation is under pressure, the TFFF brings together countries from North and South, as well as public and private actors, around a shared objective: making standing tropical forests economically valuable. What began as a Brazilian proposal is now becoming a truly global initiative — one that will now establish an important presence in Luxembourg through the hosting of 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 and the trusted and effective financial ecosystem provides as one of the leading financial centers in the world.

Looking ahead

The launch of the Luxembourg ICF Days marks an important 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 reinforces its role as a hub for sustainable finance and international cooperation.

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

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