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Brazil Clears Amazon Rainforest for Highway to COP30 Climate Summit

The construction of an 8-mile highway to ease access for 50,000 attendees has raised concerns over deforestation and environmental impact.

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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.
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 Avenida Liberdade highway, an 8-mile, four-lane road, is being built to accommodate the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, scheduled for November 2025.
  • Tens of thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest have been cleared for the project, sparking criticism from conservationists and locals over its environmental and social consequences.
  • The highway includes features like wildlife crossings, bike lanes, and solar-powered lighting, but experts warn it could fragment ecosystems and enable further deforestation and illegal activities.
  • Local residents, such as açaí harvesters, report losing their livelihoods due to the deforestation, with no compensation or direct benefits from the highway construction.
  • Brazilian officials, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, defend the project as part of broader infrastructure improvements for the summit, framing it as a legacy for the region.