The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in November in Belém, Brazil, has led to the clearing of eight miles of the Amazon rainforest to build Avenida Liberdade, a highway designed to accommodate the influx of attendees. While local residents express concern over environmental degradation and potential displacement, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to infrastructure development despite ongoing deforestation challenges.
In November, the United Nations will host the 2025 Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, anticipating the arrival of 50,000 attendees. To facilitate this event, the Brazilian state government of Pará has cleared eight miles of the Amazon rainforest for the construction of a four-lane highway, impacting the region significantly.
Clearing operations have stripped the forest floor, as highlighted by visual documentation from the BBC, showcasing logs discarded along the area designated for road construction. The Amazon rainforest plays a critical role in mitigating rising global temperatures, which has prompted André Aranha Corrêa Do Lago, the diplomat leading COP30, to emphasize the importance of understanding the role of forests in his recent public reflections.
Local residents, including açaí berry harvester Claudio Verequete, have expressed concerns over the highway’s construction, fearing future encroachments and further development projects may displace them. The new highway not only separates the forest but also inhibits access for indigenous species and communities that depend on it, posing a threat to local ecology.
Since 2012, Pará has aimed to construct this highway to improve connectivity with Belém, a city of over two million. However, environmental protections had previously thwarted these plans. The impending climate conference has unexpectedly facilitated the highway’s construction, which has been named Avenida Liberdade, or Liberty Avenue.
This infrastructure initiative is tied to broader ambitions to rejuvenate Belém, with $81 million earmarked for airport expansion, park development, and new hotel accommodations. Additionally, high-capacity cruise ships will be employed to accommodate visitors during the conference.
Belém was deliberately selected as the location for COP30 because it lies within the Amazon, an essential ecological asset critical for climate regulation. While Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva initially pledged to protect the forest, deforestation continues, complicating conservation efforts, particularly as he has backed oil exploration projects in sensitive regions.
Do Lago poignantly noted, “Forests can buy us time in climate action in our rapidly closing window of opportunity.” He underscored the potential benefits of reversing deforestation to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Ironically, the recent clearance of eight miles of the Amazon underscores the challenges inherent in reconciling infrastructure development with environmental preservation.
The upcoming COP30 highlights the tension between climate advocacy and infrastructural development in Brazil, evidenced by the highway construction in the Amazon. While forest preservation remains crucial for combatting climate change, local communities face disruptions and ecological threats as projects proceed. This situation exemplifies the urgent need for balanced dialogue between development and environmental stewardship, which remains pivotal for sustainable future actions.
Original Source: gizmodo.com
