Brazil just fell thousands of trees to make way for grand COP30 climate summit

Brazil is set to host the upcoming COP30 climate summit in the city of Belém this November. And guess how the Latin American country is preparing for it: By cutting down tens of thousands of trees.

The Brazilian government is receiving criticism for clearing an eight-mile stretch of protected Amazon rainforest to build a brand new four-lane highway leading to the event venue, reported BBC.

Belém is going to host over 50,000 people at the event and the new roads are being built to avoid congestion in the city.

World Economic Forum describes the COP30 as an important platform for enhancing global climate action and establishing clearer carbon trading rules, which aim to strengthen the global carbon system and boost participation from the public and private sectors.

Brazil says it’s “sustainable highway”

Brazilian government has defended the decision, saying the highway would be “sustainable”, and described the project as an “important mobility intervention.”

“We can have a legacy for the population and more importantly, serve people for COP30 in the best possible way,” said Adler Silveira, the secretary of the state government’s infrastructure.

He stated that the highway will include wildlife crossings for animals, bike lanes, and solar lighting once completed. Additionally, new hotels are under construction, and the port is being upgraded to accommodate cruise ships for incoming tourists.

The Brazilian government has invested over $81 million to expand the airport’s capacity, increasing it from 7 million to 14 million passengers, according to the BBC report.

Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the summit will be “a COP in the Amazon, not a COP about the Amazon.”

COP29- A disappointment for the developing world

The COP30 Summit comes a year after the COP29 Summit in Baku failed to deliver on the expected climate financing.

Brazil’s main objective for COP30 is to establish a pathway to mobilise $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for developing nations—far surpassing the $300 billion agreed upon at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. While the Baku commitment remains intact, Brazil is actively exploring additional financing strategies to bridge this gap, including initiatives like the “Baku to Belem Roadmap to 1.3T.”

(With inputs from agencies)