Aug 5, 02:39 AM

Brazil Confirms COP30 in Belém Amid Hotel Rates Over $200, Developing Nations’ $70 Requests, and Amazon Oil Exploration

With less than 100 days remaining until COP30, Brazil is preparing to host the climate conference in Belém, a city near the mouth of the Amazon. Despite calls from several countries to relocate the event due to exorbitant hotel prices, the Brazilian government has firmly rejected any plans to move the conference. Hotel rates in Belém have surged dramatically, with three-star hotels charging nearly double the rates of luxury hotels such as the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro. Some accommodations have adapted alternative lodging options, including schools and motels, to meet visitor demand. The government is exploring measures to reduce these high costs, as daily rates have exceeded US$200, while developing countries have requested accommodations priced around US$70. This price inflation has raised concerns about the potential exclusion of civil society and representatives from developing nations. Meanwhile, the event is set against the backdrop of Brazil's ongoing oil exploration near the Amazon, which has drawn criticism from environmentalists. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva maintains that oil drilling is necessary to finance the energy transition, despite the apparent contradiction with the climate goals of COP30. The tourism minister, Celso Sabino, has assured that the conference will proceed as planned and aims to be "the largest and best COP the UN has ever seen," emphasizing a commitment to fair pricing and the event's focus on the forest and climate issues.

#Brazil #Belém #Amazon #Brazilian #Copacabana Palace #Rio de Janeiro #Celso Sabino #UN

Written with ChatGPT (GPT-4).

Brazil Confirms COP30 in Belém Amid Hotel Rates Over $200, Developing Nations’ $70 Requests, and Amazon Oil Exploration

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