Brazil faces COP30 hotels costs under pressure from developing countries

Brazil assured foreign governments concerned with preparations for the United Nations (UN) climate summit in November, which provided enough rooms to accommodate the tens of thousands of expected people in the city of Belém for the event, even if the offer is still below the public projections of the country itself.

Valter Correia, Brazilian Extraordinary Secretary for the Summit, known as COP30, presented a plan to prioritize the needs of developing countries and island nations. Representatives of these nations expressed indignation during a conference in Bonn, Germany, arguing that high prices from accommodation in Belém could exclude them from COP30.

“We are ensuring that everyone can come at affordable prices,” he said. “We cannot leave the smaller countries, the ones who suffer the most from climate change from outside an event like this would be absolutely unthinkable.”

Environmental activists from around the world look forward to Brazil’s turn hosting the climate summit after three years in which the conference was held in countries with restrictions on freedom of public manifestations.

Brazil has chosen Belém for climate negotiations to draw attention to the tropical forests that are disappearing in the world, but civil society groups have warned for months that the lack of accommodation in the Amazon city can create barriers for many participants.

Authorities have already identified more than 30,000 rooms available in the city, Correia said, compared to an estimate of 20,000 rooms that UN authorities reported to Brazilians were necessary to accommodate delegations, journalists and observers.

Still, the number is below the demand of the 45,000 COP30 participants that Correia projected earlier this year. He said he expects Belém to meet additional demand as more private houses, hotel rooms and alternative options, such as adapted schools, become available.

The UN climate change office, the UNFCCC, refused to confirm the number of expected people.

This week, Brazil launched a reserve site with 1,500 rooms for a group of 98 developing countries and island nations, priced between $ 100 and $ 220 per night, Correia said.

Another 1,000 rooms will be added to the platform soon, open to all delegations, with prices of up to $ 600 per night. Subsequently, the platform will open to all other participants. Brazil also signed a contract for 3,900 booths on two cruise ships that will be moved in the port city during COP.

Correia also said he hoped that civil society groups will find adequate accommodations. However, although his team is fighting price manipulation, he has acknowledged that it will not be possible to offer low -priced rooms to everyone.