'There is no plan B': Government rejects request to change COP30 venue
The Brazilian government ruled out moving the COP30 headquarters this Friday (1st), in response to the request of several countries unhappy with the price of accommodation in Belém, which will host the UN's most important climate summit between November 10th and 21st.
On Tuesday, several African, island and other developing countries made an official request to change the conference's venue due to high accommodation prices, COP30 President Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago said at a virtual press conference.
"Let me be very clear, the COP will be in Belém, the meeting of heads of state will be in Belém, and there is no plan B," Corrêa said this Friday.
The conference will be preceded by a meeting of heads of state on November 6 and 7.
In mid-June, the Brazilian COP presidency enabled a platform that offers accommodation at “affordable prices” for delegations from countries with lower budgets.
On this platform, prices are limited to $220 per night, well below commercial prices that can exceed $1,000 per night in hotels, but are still beyond the reach of certain delegations.
“Those who are demonstrating are the UN member countries that are in this group of small islands or that are in the group of relatively least developed countries or members of the African group,” Corrêa explained.
"Rooms have to be between $50 and $70 for them to be able to come to the COP," the diplomat added.
On Thursday, Corrêa denounced that hotels in Belém had set "abusive" prices. "They're asking for more than 10 times the normal prices. So there's a literal sense of outrage across the countries over this insensitivity," he stated.
"A new meeting is scheduled for August 11th, with the aim of continuing the dialogue on the set of actions for holding COP30," which includes topics such as "accommodation," the COP organization indicated in a statement.
Brazil expects around 50,000 people for the COP and the organization claims to have more than 53,000 beds available for accommodation in Belém.
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