Collaboration for sustainable development between Germany and Brazil - a close partnership for climate protection and biodiversity

Frankfurt (ots) -

- Portfolio: EUR 2 billion
- Focus on renewable energies and the conservation of tropical
forest
- FIFA World Cup stadium in Belo Horizonte with solar roof

KfW Development Bank is supporting Brazil in the area of
sustainable development on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for
Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and other federal
ministries. The portfolio of ongoing projects and projects in the
pipeline totals EUR 2 billion.

"KfW is offering Brazil support to help meet international climate
protection goals. The aim is to conserve unique biodiversity and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Innovation and modern technology can
encourage growth that is in harmony with nature and satisfies social
criteria." says Dr Norbert Kloppenburg, member of the KfW Group
Executive Board.

One of the two areas of focus is the collaboration with regard to
renewable energies and improving energy efficiency. For this area of
focus alone there are currently projects totalling more than EUR 1.3
billion that are either underway or in the pipeline. A number of
small hydro-power stations and wind farms have already been completed
and supply clean energy on a daily basis. At the end of May, a 1
megawatt solar plant is to be officially opened at the headquarters
of the South Brazilian energy supplier Eletrosul. This project
represents the first large-scale solar plant on the roof of a
Brazilian public company and serves as a pilot project that will
raise the profile of photovoltaic technology among the Brazilian
public. Despite favourable solar irradiation values, this technology
is still rarely used.

And in a few days time another KfW financing project will attract
attention. As part of the "Solar WM 2014" project (Solar World Cup
2014), the roof of the "Mineirão" stadium at the FIFA World Cup venue
in Belo Horizonte will be fitted with a 1.4 megawatt photovoltaic
system. Following the completion of studies supported by the advice
of GIZ, a number of stadium roof installations have been kicked off
and others are planned. Cool shade for spectators and solar energy
for stadium operations - the stadium roofs are making their own
contribution to a balanced World Cup.

The second main area of focus in terms of the cooperation with
Brazil is tropical forest conservation, an area that KfW has been
dedicated to since 1995 on behalf of the Federal Government. Not only
was KfW one of the pioneers in the protection of Brazil's
rainforests, but having currently contributed EUR 366 million it is
also the greatest financial contributor and cooperation partner to
the Brazilian environmental authorities. The internationally renowned
ARPA program (Amazon Region Protected Areas Program) actively
protects almost 100 conservation areas covering an area of around
600,000 square kilometres. Besides the designation of national park
areas, the programme also focuses on the long-term maintenance of the
areas. This helps to effectively combat illegal deforestation. It is
thanks in particular to the biodiversity in Brazil with around 1.4
million plant and animal species. The people living in these areas
can shape their future in harmony with nature.

Germany and Brazil consider their collaboration for sustainable
development an example of modern-day cooperation between an
industrialised country and an emerging country.

Further information and materials (texts, videos and photos) are
available (in German) at www.kfw.de/brasilien, under the heading
"Themen Kompakt Brasilien".

Press Contact:
KfW, Palmengartenstr. 5 - 9, 60325 Frankfurt
Kommunikation (KOM), Dr. Charis Pöthig,
Tel. +49 (0)69 7431 4683, Fax: +49 (0)69 7431 3266,
E-Mail: presse@kfw.de, Internet: www.kfw.de