The preparation for the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP30 climate summit in Brazil’s Belem this November has begun. Meanwhile, the state government is constructing an eight-mile highway, named Avenida Liberdade or “Avenue of Liberty”. The highway is expected to ease traffic for the expected 50,000 attendees.
Forests Cut for Climate Summit?
COP30 is an event where the country leaders will update their national climate action plans (NDCs) to mitigate emissions. The event will be hosted in Brazil, there is also an opportunity to more strongly focus on the importance of nature and land use as part of climate action. However huge stretches of forests are being cut down to host a Climate summit. Reports suggest that the cleared stretch is more than 13 km long.
Tens of thousands of acres of Amazon rainforest are being cut-off to make way for the four-lane road. This has raised serious concerns among conservationists, locals, and environmental activists. Meanwhile the highway is meant to accommodate delegates and dignitaries, including world leaders, attending the UN climate conference.
Local Impact and Loss of Livelihoods
The cut-off and deforestation of the forest has devastated local communities that rely on the Amazon for their daily livelihoods. Locals living near the construction site, shared their distress. They stated that their harvest, which is the primary source of their income, was destroyed in the deforestation. “Everything was destroyed. We no longer have that income to support our family,” a local told BBC. Several residents feel their lives have been disrupted, and no financial aid was provided by the state government.
Government’s “Sustainable” Claims
Amid the growing concerns and criticism, the Brazilian government defends the highway as part of a broader modernization plan for Belem city. This includes wildlife crossings, bike lanes, and solar lighting. The government authorities argue that the upcoming highway project will help prepare the city for the Climate summit while showcasing the country’s efforts to protect the Amazon Forest.
Now the irony is that clearing large swaths of protected rainforest for an event focused on climate change. Critics have pointed the stark contradiction between the environmental goals of COP30 and the destruction caused by the Highway Construction.
What is COP30?
COP30 refers to the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is an annual high-level meeting organized by the UNFCCC where countries that signed the treaty discuss and negotiate climate change issues. This year the event will be held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10-21, 2025.
