In Brazil, hectares of protected Amazon forests were cleared for the sake of a climate summit
Brazil is planning to host the COP30 climate summit this year. The preparations proved too radical – entire hectares of protected Amazon forests had to be cleared to build a highway to Belém. This shocked the environmental community. Conservationists reminded the authorities of the theme of the forum, for which they are so eagerly preparing.
The government is praising the highway project and promising to build special safe crossings for animals. According to the plan, tropical trees will be planted along the new road to create the illusion of preserving the Amazon forest.
The COP30 summit will attract approximately 50,000 guests from around the world this November. Brazilian President Lula da Silva stated that the upcoming event will focus on the needs of the Amazon. Furthermore, world leaders will discuss the measures the Brazilian government has taken to protect the rainforest.
Conservationists are hard to convince; they believe that deforestation for the sake of the summit defeats the very purpose of holding it.
Shocked locals complain to BBC journalists: Claudio Verekete lives approximately 200 meters from the road's location. He previously earned his living picking açaí berries from the trees that once grew there.
"Everything has been destroyed. We no longer have the income to support our family," he said. He claims the authorities have not provided him with any compensation, and the family now lives on their savings. Residents are also concerned that the construction of this road will lead to even greater deforestation in the future, as it will open up new business opportunities.
The Conference of Parties (COP) Climate Summit is an international United Nations conference dedicated to climate change. This forum is the highest governing body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and plays an important role in developing and coordinating global climate policy.
The COP30 summit will be the 30th anniversary meeting of this conference. The event is scheduled for November 2025 and will take place in the Brazilian city of Belém, located in the heart of the Amazon region. The upcoming summit will focus on climate finance, particularly as it supports developing countries. Representatives from 198 countries that are parties to the UNFCCC will participate in the forum.
