Enviro News Asia, Brasília – Preparations for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) are moving forward steadily. On Wednesday (17 September), representatives from the COP30 Presidency, the Special Secretariat for COP30 under the Office of the Chief of Staff (Casa Civil), Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), and the Government of the State of Pará held a meeting with the Bureau of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The meeting provided updates on the host country’s readiness, with a particular focus on accommodation and technological support.
During the meeting, Brazil informed the Bureau that 79 countries have confirmed accommodations for their delegations in Belém, either through official partners such as Bnetwork and Qualitour or via independent reservations. Meanwhile, 70 other countries are still in negotiations. To expedite coordination, the Brazilian government created a task force on 18 August. This team involves the COP30 Presidency, Secop (Special Secretariat for COP30), the Ministry of Tourism, and the Government of Pará, with a mandate to provide direct assistance to each delegation—covering accommodation, transportation, health services, and other operational needs.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell announced an increase in the Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) for Belém. The daily rate, previously USD 149, has been raised to USD 197 for 144 developing countries, including Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Regional representatives welcomed this additional support for eligible delegations. Stiell praised Brazil’s commitment to resolving accommodation challenges:
“Progress has been made, though more work remains. We appreciate Brazil’s leadership and fully share its commitment to ensuring an inclusive COP,” he said.
Valter Correia da Silva, Special Secretary for COP30, highlighted that since the launch of the official accommodation packages, intensive dialogue with delegations has continued.
“We have been flexible in addressing their concerns. We reached out through UNFCCC focal points, embassies in Brasília, and Brazil’s diplomatic network abroad. We also reduced the minimum number of nights required for ship bookings and supported delegations in negotiations with hotels and short-term rental providers,” he explained.
According to the latest data, more than 42,000 rooms are now available in Belém for November. This includes hotels in the capital and metropolitan area (8,166 rooms), ship cabins (3,882, including 800 options priced under USD 200 per night), official platforms such as Bnetwork (7,354 rooms, up to USD 600 per night), and rental units on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com (23,300 units).
COP30 Brazil CEO Ana Toni underscored Belém’s significance as the host city. She noted that during international outreach missions, President Lula’s choice of Belém consistently received positive feedback.
“We have received extraordinary support from many countries, even amid a complex geopolitical moment. Amazônia carries great symbolic importance,” she said.
Maurício Lyrio, Ambassador and Secretary for Climate, Energy, and Environment, also emphasized the importance of choosing Pará’s capital:
“The Brazilian people and government understand the significance of hosting the first COP in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. This reinforces the message of Amazônia’s importance in global climate negotiations,” he stated.
Lyrio added that all invitations for the COP30 Summit on 6–7 November have already been sent to the Parties.
Additional DSA and Proposal for an Ad Hoc Fee
While the DSA increase was welcomed, Brazil noted that the new rate remains below the average for other major Brazilian cities. The government has proposed that the UNFCCC consider applying an ad hoc fee specifically for COP30 to further ease the financial burden on delegations from developing countries.
Tackling Unfair Pricing Practices
The federal government also highlighted efforts to curb excessive pricing through legal and administrative measures, as well as dialogue with hotels, lodging platforms, and real estate agencies. Hotels.com and Airbnb.com have complied with recommendations from Brazilian authorities, including the Pará Public Defender’s Office and Procon, by blocking advertisements deemed abusive and issuing alerts when rates exceed market averages.
Through these measures, Brazil aims to ensure that COP30 in Belém—the first COP held in the heart of Amazônia—runs smoothly, inclusively, and reflects a global commitment to climate action. (*)
