Brazil is clearing eight miles of the Amazon rainforest to build a highway for the upcoming UN climate conference, COP30, in Belém. The project is controversial as it threatens local ecology and communities while contradicting Brazil’s earlier environmental commitments. The highway, Avenida Liberdade, aims to facilitate access for 50,000 attendees while raising concerns over deforestation and its impact on climate change efforts.
In November, the United Nations will convene in Belém, Brazil, for the 2025 Climate Change Conference, also known as COP30. To accommodate approximately 50,000 participants, the government of Pará has cleared eight miles of the Amazon rainforest to construct a four-lane highway, facilitating access to the event. The BBC reports on the cleared land, showcasing the stark contrast of decimated forest with piled logs along the planned route.
The Amazon rainforest is crucial in combating climate change. André Aranha Corrêa Do Lago, Brazil’s diplomatic lead for COP30, emphasized the importance of forests in a recent letter discussing his aims for the conference and its broader implications. He urged attendees to consider the vital role forests play in climate regulation during their discussions in November.
Local resident Claudio Verequete expressed his concerns over the environmental impact of the new highway, noting that it has disrupted his livelihood as an açaí berry harvester. He fears future developments might force further displacement. The highway not only severs access to the forest for residents but also fragments habitats for wildlife, with scientists warning of severe ecological consequences.
The idea for this highway has been in discussion since 2012, hindered by stringent environmental protections until now. The upcoming climate conference has afforded the state the means to construct necessary infrastructure, resulting in the unfortunate felling of trees in the Amazon. Named Avenida Liberdade, the highway is part of a broader strategy to boost Belém’s infrastructure, including a significant airport expansion and hotel developments.
Hosting COP30 in the Amazon was intentional, aiming to spotlight the forest’s critical role in global temperature regulation. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva initially advocated for forest preservation, showing a reduction in deforestation during early actions of his administration. However, recent endorsements of oil exploration indicate a troubling shift in policy. In his letter, Do Lago remarked, “Forests can buy us time in climate action in our rapidly closing window of opportunity,” highlighting the contradiction between Brazil’s actions and its commitments to climate action.
The clearance of eight miles of the Amazon rainforest for COP30 highlights a significant contradiction in Brazil’s climate policy. While the forest is a vital component in the fight against climate change, recent infrastructure developments raise concerns regarding the ecological health of the area as well as the displacement of local communities. As Brazil prepares to host an essential discussion on climate action, it faces scrutiny over its commitment to preserving the very forests that are critical to this cause.
Original Source: gizmodo.com
