Belém, Brazil – Ahead of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP30), scheduled to be held in the Brazilian Amazon this November, road construction within the Amazon rainforest region has become a heated point of contention. Environmental activists and critics are strongly criticizing the road construction, warning that it will cause severe environmental destruction.
The road in question is a 13-kilometer arterial road being built by the Pará state government, planned to alleviate traffic congestion on existing major highways. This road was conceived long before Belém (population approximately 2.5 million), the gateway city to the Amazon rainforest, was selected as the host city for COP30. However, criticism is mounting as it is expected to pass through the last remaining rainforest area within Belém.
Historically, road construction in the Amazon region has been a major cause of deforestation and development in surrounding areas. Therefore, this road construction stands in stark contrast to the core objectives of the climate change agreement, particularly the efforts to conserve biodiversity, which is one of the main agenda items for this COP30.
Since taking office, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made slowing deforestation a key policy priority and has emphasized that this COP30 will be the first climate change conference of the parties to be held in the Amazon rainforest. The Amazon plays a crucial role in regulating the climate, absorbing carbon dioxide, a major cause of global warming. During a visit to the construction site in Belém last February, President Lula expressed confidence, saying, "The theme of every COP held in other countries was the Amazon. This COP will be held in the Amazon, so it will be the best COP in history."
However, contrary to President Lula's remarks, the controversial road is planned to cut straight through a green area on the outskirts of Belém. According to the official project map, the road will bisect a protected area slightly larger than Manhattan. This protected area was designated in 1993 to protect two lakes and river basins and restore degraded rainforest, but it internally includes regulations allowing private land ownership, government-approved logging, and public works. Currently, two university campuses are also located within this protected area.
Roberta Rodrigues, a professor of architecture at the Federal University of Pará, pointed out, "Even if measures are taken to reduce damage, there are many difficult problems to solve." She also expressed concern, saying, "It is hard to imagine that illegal development will not follow the construction of the road along the banks of the Guamá River. This protected area may eventually disappear."
The road construction project was first planned in 2020 and began in mid-2024 despite criticism regarding its impact on Belém's few remaining green spaces. The project began to receive international attention last March when the BBC reported that it was being "built for COP30." As this report spread to media outlets worldwide, the Brazilian government issued a statement clarifying that this arterial road was not included in the 33 infrastructure projects planned for COP30.
In a statement to the Associated Press, the Pará state government stated that the road would be named ‘Liberdade Avenue’ and would be built in the form of a highway, prohibiting development in the surrounding areas. However, considering the unplanned growth of Brazilian cities, it is uncertain whether these promises will actually be kept. Numerous public lands have been occupied for unauthorized housing construction, with the expectation that they will eventually be legalized, and such cases occur frequently.
Belém is the capital of Pará state, led by Governor Helder Barbalho, a political ally of President Lula and from a traditional political family. Both President Lula and Governor Barbalho support oil drilling in the offshore area near the mouth of the Amazon River, which is likely to be a major point of contention during COP30.
The controversial road is scheduled to open on November 10, just before the start of COP30. Ahead of an international conference where environmental protection and sustainable development will be discussed, concerns are growing that the road construction, which is causing controversy over the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, could undermine the significance of COP30 and invite criticism from the international community.
The Amazon rainforest plays a vital role in the Earth's ecosystem. Known as the "lungs of the Earth," it produces a vast amount of oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide, contributing to slowing down global warming. It is also a treasure trove of biodiversity, home to about 10% of the world's species, and the living space for numerous indigenous communities.
Road construction has been identified as one of the main causes of Amazon rainforest destruction. Once roads are built, accessibility increases, facilitating illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and mining development, which ultimately leads to large-scale deforestation and ecosystem destruction. Furthermore, soil erosion and water pollution caused by road construction have severe negative impacts on the surrounding environment.
COP30 holds great significance as it is the first climate change conference of the parties to be held in the Amazon rainforest. The Brazilian government aims to lead international discussions on Amazon conservation and present sustainable development models through this conference. However, the road construction controversy ahead of the conference raises questions about the Brazilian government's sincerity and could negatively impact the successful hosting of COP30.
International environmental organizations are strongly criticizing this road construction plan and urging the Brazilian government to prioritize environmental protection. They argue that the environmental and social costs of road construction should not be overlooked and that sustainable alternatives should be sought. They also emphasize that COP30 must produce substantive discussions and concrete action plans for Amazon conservation.
This road construction controversy once again highlights the complex issue of conflict between development and environmental conservation. While infrastructure construction for economic development and convenience is inevitable, development in ecologically important areas must be approached with caution. In particular, the development of areas like the Amazon rainforest, which has a massive impact on the global climate and ecosystem, should be carefully considered from a long-term perspective.
The controversy ahead of COP30 sends an important message not only to the Brazilian government but also to the international community. Addressing climate change and conserving biodiversity are urgent tasks that can no longer be postponed, and to achieve this, sustainable development plans must be sought from a long-term perspective rather than short-term economic gains. The international community is focused on whether COP30 can truly be a turning point for meaningful progress in Amazon conservation and global environmental protection.
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