BY ADENEKAN VICTORIA FAITH
A brewing controversy over hotel prices in Belém is casting a shadow over the upcoming UN climate summit, COP30, scheduled for this November.
The dispute, which Brazilian media has dubbed the “hosting crisis,” is causing a stir among international delegations, with some governments reportedly considering reducing their presence or even pulling out of the conference entirely.
According to André Corrêa do Lago, the president of COP30, participating countries are putting pressure on Brazil to move the event from Belém to another city.
The reason? “Exorbitant prices” for hotel rooms.
The Brazilian government, however, has so far refused to consider a relocation.
The crisis is a perfect storm of challenges facing the host city. Belém’s hotel network is small, unable to meet the expected demand for over 50,000 beds.
In response, hotels began raising their rates to a premium, further exacerbating the problem.
The issue is compounded by long-standing infrastructure challenges in Belém, which, like many cities in the developing world, struggles to support an event of this magnitude.
Critics argue that a historical prejudice against holding a global event in an Amazonian city is also at play.
In an effort to mitigate the crisis, the federal government has secured two ocean liners, which will provide an additional 6,000 beds for attendees.
Additionally, a new online accommodation platform has been launched, making 2,500 rooms available.
Alternative solutions being discussed include the UN offering greater subsidies to delegations from developing countries and delegates staying in neighboring cities.
The clock is ticking, and the risk of low attendance looms large. A strong turnout is seen as crucial for the legitimacy of the decisions that will be made at the summit.
As the city of Belém prepares to welcome the world, the focus remains on resolving the accommodation crisis and ensuring the success of this vital climate conference.
