The COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, prompts concerns over a new highway through protected Amazon rainforest. Despite its purported sustainable features, the project exemplifies contradictions in climate advocacy. The article questions alarmist narratives and advocates for a biblically-informed approach to environmental stewardship. Further exploration of this perspective is available in a co-authored book.
In November 2025, Belém, Brazil, will host the COP30 climate summit, drawing over 50,000 attendees, including prominent global leaders. This event has faced substantial criticism for its incongruences, notably the extensive use of private jets that contradicts its emissions-reduction goals. Recently, reports emerged about the construction of a new four-lane highway through a significant area of protected Amazon rainforest and wetlands to accommodate the expected visitor influx.
Although the highway project was proposed in 2012 to alleviate congestion, construction commenced in 2020 before the announcement of the climate summit. This raises questions about the motivations behind the highway’s development. While it incorporates wildlife crossings aimed at sustainability, it ultimately threatens local habitats by halving forest areas, illustrating a clear contradiction to the summit’s environmental goals.
The construction of this highway presents an opportunity for reflection on the effectiveness of climate summits. Despite genuine conservation threats, such as habitat fragmentation, there are doubts about the portrayal of man-made climate change as an unequivocal danger at events like COP30. Climate change narratives often stem from a perspective that views any fluctuation as caused by human activity, which neglects historical factors influencing the climate.
Christian stewardship of the earth necessitates a balanced approach to environmental care, prioritizing both human needs and responsible resource management. Contrary to the urgent warnings from climate alarmists, there exists a biblical framework for addressing climate issues that emphasizes wisdom derived from scripture rather than despair.
To explore a biblical perspective on climate change, readers are invited to consider the resource “Climate Change for Kids…and Parents Too!” authored collaboratively with environmental scientist Jessica DeFord. This topic, alongside others, was featured on Answers News, a weekly program by Answers in Genesis, co-hosted by Kevin Hadsall, Dr. Tim Chaffey, and Avery Foley, which examines scientific and cultural news from a biblical viewpoint.
In conclusion, the construction of the highway through protected rainforest for COP30 raises significant concerns about the event’s environmental integrity. It highlights the inconsistencies in climate advocacy and the need for a balanced, biblically-grounded approach to environmental stewardship. Both conservation efforts and climate discussions benefit from a perspective acknowledging historical factors rather than solely focusing on human-induced changes. Furthermore, exploring biblical principles can help shape responses to climate challenges effectively.
Original Source: answersingenesis.org
