Brazil’s Controversial Highway Construction Ahead of UN Climate Conference

This article discusses the decision to clear eight miles of Amazon rainforest to build a highway in Pará, Brazil, in preparation for the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém. Despite highlighting the importance of forests in combating climate change, local residents express concerns over ecological damage and displacement due to infrastructure development. The article emphasizes the contradictions in environmental policies amid the upcoming conference.

In November, the city of Belém, Brazil, will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), expected to attract 50,000 attendees. To facilitate this event, the state government of Pará has cleared eight miles of the Amazon rainforest, constructing a four-lane highway. This action has been documented by various sources, including the BBC, which featured stark images of the deforested land, now lined with logs in preparation for road expansion.

The Amazon rainforest plays a crucial role in combatting global warming. André Aranha Corrêa Do Lago, a seasoned Brazilian diplomat leading COP30, highlighted the significance of forests in his recent letter. He emphasized the need to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of forests and their guardians during the conference. “When we get together in the Brazilian Amazon in November, we must listen to the latest science and re-evaluate the extraordinary role already played by forests and the people who preserve and rely on them,” Do Lago stated.

Local resident Claudio Verequete, whose livelihood depended on harvesting açaí berries, expressed concerns over the highway’s construction and subsequent environmental degradation. He fears future proposals for further development might displace his community. The highway severes access for local wildlife and people, transforming a once-unified region into two isolated segments.

Efforts to build a highway to Belém date back to 2012 but have been stalled due to environmental regulations protecting the Amazon. Ironically, the upcoming climate conference has provided a green light for these infrastructure projects, resulting in significant ecological loss. The highway has been named Avenida Liberdade, or “Liberty Avenue.”

Avenida Liberdade is part of a larger plan to revitalize Belém, with plans to invest $81 million in airport expansion and a new park. Additionally, hotel developments and high-capacity cruise ship accommodations are being arranged to support the influx of conference attendees. The location choice is significant, as this is the first U.N. climate conference occurring in the Amazon, a vital ecosystem for planetary health.

Notably, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has previously campaigned for forest protection, faces contradictions in his policy. While he advocated for reduced deforestation early in his presidency, he has also supported projects such as exploratory drilling by oil companies in near the Amazon’s mouth. “Forests can buy us time in climate action in our rapidly closing window of opportunity,” Do Lago concluded, indicating a critical need for action. Yet, the recent deforestation contradicts this urgent call for environmental preservation during the conference preparations.

The decision to clear eight miles of the Amazon rainforest for a highway in preparation for the U.N. Climate Change Conference demonstrates a troubling contradiction in environmental policy. While the conference aims to address climate change and promote forest protection, the actions taken by the state government of Pará highlight the complexities and challenges faced in balancing development and conservation. The voices of local communities and ecological experts underscore the potential long-term consequences of such infrastructure projects, urging a reconsideration of priorities in climate action efforts.

Original Source: gizmodo.com