COP30 and the road through a deforested Amazon – climate summit or summit of Ignorance?

In November 2025, world leaders will gather in Belém, Brazil, for COP30 to discuss climate protection. Meanwhile, deep in the heart of the Amazon, forests are being cleared to make way for a new highway intended to facilitate the organization of this summit. An event designed to highlight the importance of the Amazon rainforest for the planet now teeters on the edge of ecological hypocrisy.

COP30 in the heart of the Amazon

The 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) will take place from November 10 to 21, 2025, in Belém, the capital of Pará, Brazil. It will be the first UN climate summit held in a region critical to global climate stability. The event is expected to attract thousands of delegates, scientists, and activists, and Brazil hopes to use it to showcase its commitment to environmental protection.

To meet logistical challenges, the government has decided to expand infrastructure. A key project is the four-lane BR-010 highway, which will connect Belém with surrounding regions, facilitating transportation during COP30. However, the road – stretching several dozen kilometers – will cut through protected areas of the rainforest.

A road through the forest

The stated goal of the investment is to improve road infrastructure in Pará, where existing routes are narrow and frequently congested, potentially hindering the increased traffic expected during the climate summit. The construction of BR-010 is intended to enhance access to ports, airports, and hotels, as well as contribute to the region’s development. Authorities emphasize that the project will create new jobs and improve access to key economic centers for local communities, potentially providing a much-needed boost to areas affected by poverty.

However, the costs of this investment go far beyond financial considerations. The project requires deforestation of at least 50,000 hectares of rainforest, including parts of the Gurupi Biological Reserve –one of the last strongholds of the Amazon’s biodiversity. Experts warn that this poses a serious threat to an ecosystem crucial to global efforts to combat climate change.

Environmental consequences

Deforestation means not only a loss of forest cover but also the release of stored carbon into the atmosphere. It also leads to the destruction of habitats for many species – from jaguars to birds – driving them toward extinction. The fragmentation of the forest disrupts wildlife migration and destabilizes the ecosystem, while damaged soil structures increase the risk of erosion and landslides.

The Mongabay organization has issued a warning: once disturbed, the rainforest may never fully recover.

Impact on local communities

Local residents are already feeling the effects of the project. Claudio Verequete, a resident of a village just 200 meters from the construction site, expressed his concerns in an interview with the BBC. He has lost his primary source of income from açaí berry harvesting due to tree clearance. He also fears that the new infrastructure will facilitate private sector expansion, potentially leading to further deforestation and commercial land development.

Historically, such infrastructure projects in the Amazon have resulted in illegal logging and an increase in agricultural land, further accelerating environmental degradation.

The Brazilian Government’s position

The Brazilian government, led by President Lula, justifies the construction of BR-010 by citing the need to improve logistics ahead of COP30. Officials argue that the project will enhance transportation, support the organization of the summit, and bring economic benefits to the Pará region.

In response to criticism from environmentalists, the government promises to minimize deforestation and implement reforestation measures. Authorities claim that Brazil can balance economic development with its commitment to climate protection, which they say will be a key theme of COP30.

Governor Helder Barbalho supports the project, seeing it as an opportunity for modernization and the successful execution of the summit. However, past experiences show that similar government promises have often gone unfulfilled, raising skepticism about real efforts to protect the Amazon.

The climate summit paradox

A summit that was supposed to champion climate protection is now putting one of the planet’s most critical ecosystems at risk. “It’s ironic that a climate summit is destroying its greatest ally,” an environmentalist told the BBC. It’s hard to disagree…