Officials in Belém, Brazil, are clearing part of the Amazon rainforest to build a 13-kilometer, four-lane highway ahead of this year’s COP30 climate summit — a global event meant to tackle environmental crises, including deforestation.
The new highway will serve as a main route for world leaders and delegations attending the summit from November 10 to 21. It is one of 30 infrastructure projects the Brazilian government says will modernize the city and improve mobility.
“So we can leave a legacy for the population and, most importantly, serve people in the best possible way at COP30,” said Infrastructure Minister Adler Silveira, speaking to local media.
Old Plans, New Push
The highway proposal is not new.
According to the BBC, it was originally put forward by Belém’s local government in 2012, but was shelved due to environmental concerns. Those concerns appear to have been set aside now that Belém is preparing to host one of the most high-profile climate conferences on the global calendar.
The move has sparked a wave of criticism from environmental advocates and local residents, who question the symbolism of clearing rainforest to host a summit about protecting the environment.
Deforestation Worries Resurface
Speaking to the BBC, residents expressed fears that the highway could mark the beginning of a wider wave of deforestation.
One local asked what would happen once gas stations, buildings, and commercial infrastructure begin to spring up along the new route.
Brazil has long struggled with deforestation, particularly in the Amazon, and critics say this project undercuts the very message COP30 is meant to promote.
Officials in Belém have attempted to counter the backlash by claiming the project is being developed in a “sustainable manner.”
However, they have not provided specific details on what that sustainability entails, leading to further skepticism.
