Brazil is set to host COP30 in November 2024 in Belém, but construction of the Avenida Liberdade highway is clearing thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest. While the government claims the highway will improve mobility, local residents and environmental experts express significant concerns about deforestation and its impact on biodiversity and nearby communities.
Brazil is preparing to host the COP30 climate summit in Belém from November 10 to November 21, 2024, expecting around 50,000 attendees, including various world leaders. However, the construction of a new highway, designed to alleviate congestion, has led to the clearing of thousands of acres of the Amazon rainforest. The road, known as Avenida Liberdade, spans over 13 kilometers and is intended to connect existing road systems in a city with a population exceeding 2 million.
Despite being labeled a necessary mobility intervention by authorities, the highway project is controversial. The government claims it incorporates elements such as wildlife crossings, bike lanes, and solar lighting to promote sustainability. Nonetheless, wildlife experts question these assurances, emphasizing the negative impacts of deforestation on ecosystems. Claudio Verequete, a local resident, expressed concern over losing his livelihood and the potential displacement of the community due to the highway’s development.
Brazil’s President Lula da Silva has framed the COP30 as an opportunity to showcase the government’s commitment to the Amazon, insisting it will serve to highlight the region’s needs. Critics, including conservation professionals, argue that the project will exacerbate environmental damage and disrupt local habitats. As the COP30 approaches, the juxtaposition of climate action discourse and the ongoing deforestation underscores the complexities involved in conservation efforts within the region. The Amazon, holding significant biodiversity and freshwater resources, plays a critical role in controlling global climate change, making the summit’s focus even more important.
The construction of the Avenida Liberdade highway in Brazil brings to light the tensions between infrastructural development and environmental preservation. While the government presents it as a necessary project for the COP30 climate summit, critiques from local residents and environmental experts highlight significant concerns about deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and community displacement. The situation poses essential questions about sustainable development amid urgent climate challenges, particularly in a region as crucial as the Amazon.
Original Source: www.firstpost.com
