The irony of it all, say climate activists.
As Brazil prepares to host COP30 in November this year, it was revealed that the country has been destroying thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest to built a new four-lane highway.
This highway is aimed at easing traffic congestion in the northern city of Belem.
The city will be hosting COP30 in November, a climate event that gathers hundreds of country leaders to discuss the topic of climate change.
In a statement the Brazilian government shared that this road aligned with ‘sustainable’ credentials.
However, to no surprise, climate activists have been strongly outspoken about the decision to build the highway. With many highlighting the irony and contradicting nature of cutting trees for a COP 30 road.
The rainforest around Belem has been destroyed, with logs piling up along the 13km stretch that the future road will cover. It is said that the highway will have walls on either side, fully cutting the rainforest and local ecosystems in two.
This has not only impacted the rainforest but also local communities located in the work zone. As their crops and livestock have been disturbed by the construction site.
In a letter sent by the President of COP30, Ambassador Andre Correa do Lago, highlighted that ‘COP30 will therefore be the first to undeniably take place at the epicenter of the climate crisis, and the first to be hosted in the Amazon’.
He added that ‘Now, we face the “banality of inaction,” an irresponsible and unacceptable inaction’. As he calls all people to leave their differences aside and unite to vanquish the common enemy, climate change.
Yet, despite this positive tone, the climate conference is not kicking off on such a positive tone.
Climate activists have been highlighting the negative impact of the COP conferences, due to the staggering number of private jets that travel to the event.
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