Norway’s USD 3b pledge: Stanford economist warned about pitfalls of Brazilian forest fund

News December 05, 2025 / By: Ann Danaiya Usher

Norway, by far the largest contributor to Brazil’s flagship Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), has underestimated the weaknesses of the fund’s design, says Stanford University economist Bård Harstad. He has contributed to a group of international economists that advised the Brazilian COP30 Presidency, and he discussed his concerns with the Norwegian Climate Ministry months ago. “They should have required Brazil to improve on the scheme,” he says to Development Today.

Bård Harstad at Stanford U private photo.jpg — Points to weaknesses in the design of TFFF. “Brazil is naturally disappointed that they did not get more funds, except from Norway,” says Bård Harstad, economics professor at Stanford University. (Photo: private)

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Norway’s USD 3b pledge: Stanford economist warned about pitfalls of Brazilian forest fund

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