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Amazon Rainforest Cleared for Highway to COP30 Climate Summit

Brazil's construction of an 8-mile highway for the UN climate conference raises environmental and local livelihood concerns.

Forest lines the Combu creek, on Combu Island on the banks of the Guama River, near the city of Belem, Para state, Brazil, Aug. 6, 2023.
Image
Officials from Para State, northern Brazil, inspect a deforested area in the Amazon rain forest during surveillance in the municipality of Pacaja, 620 km from the capital Belem, on September 22, 2021. - World leaders reunited in Glasgow for the COP26 on November 2, 2021 issued a multibillion-dollar pledge to end deforestation by 2030, a promise met with scepticism by environmental groups who say more urgent action is needed to save the planet's lungs. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP) (Photo by EVARISTO SA/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • The Brazilian government is building an 8-mile, four-lane highway, Avenida Liberdade, to accommodate the 50,000 attendees expected at COP30 in November 2025.
  • The construction has cleared tens of thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest, raising alarm among conservationists and local residents over its environmental impact.
  • Officials describe the highway as 'sustainable,' featuring wildlife crossings, solar lighting, and bike lanes, but critics argue it fragments vital ecosystems and could lead to further deforestation.
  • Local communities, like açaí berry harvesters, have lost income due to deforestation, with some expressing fears of future displacement and limited access to the new infrastructure.
  • The Amazon rainforest, a critical carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot, plays a key role in global climate regulation, making the highway project controversial given the summit's environmental focus.