Seventy percent of nations have yet to secure accommodations for Amazon's climate summit
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is championing the global conference COP30 in the Amazon rainforest, but the city of Belem, with its 1.4 million residents, is facing challenges in accommodating the expected 50,000 attendees.
The move to November has not been enough to significantly bring down prices in Belem, and the UN's requirement of $100 a night for low-income nations is hard to find. As a result, alternative accommodation is being sought in private homes, universities, schools, and two cruise ships.
President Lula has suggested that delegates can "sleep under the stars," but the Brazilian NGO Climate Observatory warns that COP30 could be the most exclusionary in history due to its prices. The NGO's concerns are shared by many, as more than half of Belem's residents live in shantytowns.
The Brazilian government has welcomed the UN's increased subsidy from $144 to $197 per day, but has stated that it will not cover costs entirely. The government is currently in negotiations with around 70 nations to find accommodation for COP30 participants in Belém, while 47 have confirmed participation with accommodation. The names of the other negotiating countries are not disclosed.
Countries that have made direct hotel agreements include Egypt, Spain, Portugal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Norway. The conference center, located 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the docked cruise ships, is expected to accommodate a significant number of attendees.
The conference, which is expected to attract 50,000 people, is expected to be a significant event for the Amazon rainforest and the global community. Despite the challenges, the Brazilian government and the UN are working to ensure that as many people as possible can attend and participate in the important discussions that will take place.
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