🌍 Belém: History, Challenges and Amazonian Symbolism
- Capital of the state of Pará and home to around 2.5 million people, Belém was founded during the rubber boom and earned the nickname “gateway to the Amazon” due to its strategic location next to the river’s estuary.
- This marks the first time a COP will be held in the Amazon region—a decision filled with symbolic weight and championed by President Lula at COP27: “If the whole world talks about the Amazon, why not hold the COP in an Amazonian state?” he said.
🔍 However, the city faces major challenges: only 2% of its urban sewage is treated, many rivers are polluted, and violence levels remain high.
🏗️ Preparations and infrastructure for COP30
- Roads and Airport
Avenida Liberdade, a 13 km road cutting through protected forests, has been under construction since 2024. It includes wildlife crossings, bike lanes, and solar energy systems. - Val-de-Cans airport is also being expanded to double its capacity from 7 to 14 million passengers.
Urban Spaces and Accommodation
- A total of BRL 4.7 billion (≈ US$ 1 billion) is being invested across 30+ projects: macro-drainage, renovation of the Ver-o-Peso and São Brás markets, and park upgrades.
- Lodging will be mixed: new hotels, temporary homes and apartments, and a “Leaders’ Village” with 500 suites.
- Around 24,000–26,000 additional beds will be made available, plus 4,500 beds on docked ships.
✅ Conclusion
The selection of Belém as the COP30 host represents a powerful symbolic act: bringing the climate summit to the heart of the Amazon. The preparations are expected to generate a positive impact in terms of urban development, employment, and public spaces.
The COP30 in Belém will be a mirror—showing how committed we truly are to building solutions that combine social justice, environmental feasibility, and global ambition.