Amazon Under Construction: Will COP30 Fulfil Its Climate Promises?

A four-lane 13km long highway is being built through a protected area of the Amazon rainforest in preparation for the 30th annual Conference of Parties (COP30) climate summit in Belem, Brazil - reported by BBC.  The state government says the Avenida Liberdade highway is meant to ease traffic and modernise the city in preparation for the summit. Over 50,000 people including world leaders will be flying over from different parts of the world to be part of this convention.  The key agenda for COP30 is to focus on accelerating climate action, particularly through the “Uniting for our Forests” initiatives emphasising deforestation reversal and ecosystem restoration. However, the highway construction through a protected area of the Amazon rainforest which was home to around 800 plants and fungi species, ironically runs counter to COP30's main objective; to encourage ecosystem restoration and reverse deforestation.

Image credits - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vy191rgn1o

The Brazilian president and the environment minister says this will be a historic summit because it is "[a] COP in the Amazon, not a COP about the Amazon." With statements like this, the government has tried to advertise the highway as a “sustainable highway” incorporating features like wildlife crossing, bike lanes, and solar lighting to reduce its environmental impact. Despite these advertised features locals and environmentalists are worried. The road could accelerate deforestation, encourage illegal logging, and disrupt wildlife corridors, and the effects are already in play. Prof Silvia Sardinha is a wildlife vet and researcher at a university animal hospital that overlooks the site of the new highway. She and her group treat wild animals injured, usually by people or cars. After they recover, they release them back into the wild, which she thinks will be more difficult if a highway is nearby. 

This is not the first time the UN Climate Summit has faced these kinds of accusations, the last COP29 in Azerbaijan, a major producer of gas and oil, was condemned for its environmental inconsistencies. The very purpose of COP is to combat climate change and its impacts but if these authorities set double standards, it undermines the summit’s credibility and weakens public trust. Therefore this highway project must strike a meaningful balance; the measurable benefits to Brazil's economy and the global economy should outweigh the harm to the environment caused by its development. This might very well happen as some locals have a positive outlook on the highway and other infrastructure projects linked to the upcoming summit. Avenida Liberdade is one of 30 ongoing projects in the city, according to Adler Silveira, the infrastructure secretary for the state government. For example, Brazil’s federal government is spending around $81 million (£62 million) to increase the airport's capacity from "seven to 14 million passengers." Along with this Parque da Cidade, a brand-new city park spanning 500,000 square meters, is now being developed. There will be green areas, dining options, a sports complex, and other amenities available to the general public following the event reported by BBC. 

Many locals and shop owners believe that this development will be a long-term economic catalyst, they also believe that this could increase the tourism and hospitality sector of Belem. If looked at from a broader perspective, it seems that even though these projects may look consequential and environmentally controversial in the long term they could ultimately contribute to a larger vision of sustainable development. History has shown that development has always come at the expense of environmental trade-offs and it has always been a challenge for leaders and policymakers to bring a balance between both of these visions. Therefore, all eyes will be on Belem for the upcoming COP30 not just to witness the pledges and policies, but to see the decisions taken, really put into practice. Known as the "lungs of the planet," the Amazon rainforest will act as a symbolic backdrop, giving the decisions made in Belem worldwide implications. The legitimacy and legacy of COP30 will be determined by how well economic aspirations and environmental preservation can coexist.

-By Avani Vaidya