Brazil is preparing for COP30 by clearing eight miles of Amazon rainforest to build Avenida Liberdade, a new highway. This construction raises ecological concerns about habitat disruption, local community displacement, and the commitment to combat climate change. The infrastructure aims to support 50,000 attendees at the climate conference but contradicts environmental protection goals.
This November, Belém, Brazil, will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), expecting around 50,000 attendees. To accommodate this influx, the Pará state government has cleared eight miles of Amazon rainforest for a new four-lane highway, enhancing accessibility for participants.
The construction has transformed vast sections of rainforest, evident from images showing a stark, clear-cut forest floor dotted with logs along the planned route. The destruction raises concerns as forests, particularly the Amazon, play a critical role in mitigating the effects of climate change.
André Aranha Corrêa Do Lago, the chief diplomat for COP30, asserts the importance of forests in addressing climate issues. In a recent letter, he emphasized the need to listen to scientific insights and recognize the vital contributions of the forests and their custodians.
Local resident Claudio Verequete expressed fears regarding the highway’s impact on his community, which previously thrived on açaí berry harvesting. He worried about future development pressures leading to displacement or further environmental degradation, illustrating concerns many locals share about infrastructural encroachment on their livelihoods.
The new highway, named Avenida Liberdade, disrupts the ecosystem by severing access for both wildlife and local inhabitants. It divides the forest, posing a risk to the flora and fauna that have thrived there for generations. The surrounding community, whose access points are now blocked, feels marginalized by the looming project.
The highway project has been in consideration since 2012 but faced delays due to protective environmental laws. The upcoming climate summit has inadvertently provided the state with the green light to advance this infrastructure initiative.
Avenida Liberdade is part of an expansive investment in Belém, budgeting $81 million for airport upgrades, park developments, and new hotel constructions. Additionally, facilitators plan to utilize high-capacity cruise ships to accommodate those unable to find lodging.
The selection of Belém as the conference site highlights the importance of the Amazon in global climate regulation. Despite commitments from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to combat deforestation, these efforts have been undermined by recent projects, including support for oil exploration along the Amazon’s mouth.
As Do Lago remarked, forests offer a critical buffer for combating climate change. However, the paradox of destroying significant rainforest areas to host a climate conference risks undermining the goals outlined for global ecological stewardship.
This article underscores the contradictory actions of Brazil as it prepares for the UN Climate Change Conference. The clearing of rainforest for infrastructure development, despite its ecological importance, highlights significant challenges in addressing climate change while balancing development. There are rising tensions between local communities, conservation goals, and governmental ambitions for growth and modernization, posing questions about the true commitment to environmental protection in the face of pressing climate issues.
Original Source: gizmodo.com
