Belém do Pará is one of the gateways to the largest rainforest on the planet, but it is also much more than that. The city pulses to the rhythm of carimbó, coexists with the diversity of flavors of the Cairu ice cream parlor and brings together one of the most vibrant fairs in Latin America at the Ver-o-Peso Market. In musical circles, guitarrada — an instrumental genre recognized as a Brazilian cultural heritage — is part of the sound identity of Pará, alongside lambada and technobrega. At the table, Amazonian cuisine is revealed in delicacies such as tacacá, tucupi and baby fish, which combine unique flavors from the forest. In November 2025, this scenario will host the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations, COP30. Hosting the world's largest climate event in the Amazon carries powerful symbolism and a direct message to global leaders.

Read more
COP30: everything you need to know about the climate conference

Why was the Amazon biome chosen to host COP30?

In his fifth letter to the international community, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, president of COP30, stated that “bringing COP30 to the heart of the Amazon means giving space to the vulnerable and peripheral as genuine leaders, who make courageous decisions every day - and who must now occupy the center of global decision-making”. Since the announcement of Belém as the venue for the conference, the authorities have consistently stated that the COP in the Amazon has a strong symbolism that overcomes the region's logistical difficulties.

In addition to the social aspect, the decision to hold COP30 in the Amazon reflects the strategic importance of the forest for global climate balance. After all, it acts as a regulator of the planet's climate and influences temperature and precipitation patterns on different continents. “Because of the importance of the ecosystem, the Amazon may be the driving factor for maintaining current climate conditions. It has the potential to accelerate or limit man-made climate change,” explains Suzan Pantaroto, professor of Environmental Sciences at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) and president of the institution's COP30 Committee.

The phenomenon of “flying rivers” exemplifies this role of the Amazon in regulating the climate: the volume of water vapor carried through the atmosphere from the forest acts as a temperature modulator and generates rain in distant regions.

Read more
The history of the COP

What do you expect with a COP that will be held, for the first time, next to a tropical forest?

This is the first time that a COP has taken place so close to a rainforest. Participants are expected to experience the social and climate challenges that are discussed in negotiation rooms and transformed into reports. The proximity to the forest can make data on deforestation and biodiversity result in tangible experiences. “For the rulers and decision makers to understand what the Amazon means and what the Amazonian factor is in this climate issue, it is necessary to be there, to experience the territory and to know all the richness and diversity that exists there,” Suzan points out.

In addition, COP30 offers a unique opportunity for indigenous peoples and traditional Amazonian communities to actively participate in the negotiations. In Belém, these communities are in their own territory, with an expanded role. In his first letter to the international community, Corrêa do Lago stated that “COP30 will undoubtedly be the first to take place at the epicenter of the climate crisis and the first to be held in the Amazon, one of the most vital ecosystems on the planet and which, according to scientists, is now at risk of an irreversible tipping point”.

Read more
Learn about the biodiversity of the Amazon

How will the biome influence the topics to be discussed?

Although the climate agenda is global, immersion in the Amazon biome may influence how participants understand the issues that will be negotiated. “Human beings are sensitive to what they see. The presence on site provides additional motivation for issues related to planetary health well-being,” says Suzan.

Amazonian diversity will also be evidenced in the region's social contrasts. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that Brazil should not “mask” reality for visitors. This means that delegations will have contact with the country's contradictions - from prime areas to riverside communities, from modern sanitation to the open-air sewer that persists in some regions.

“Even with the COP, the city will continue with inappropriate habits and stilts. And I'm sure that visitors will want to visit these unnoble places in the region,” says Suzan, from Unifesp. This confrontation with reality can sensitize leaders to commitments related to climate justice and support for vulnerable countries.

What are the challenges that Belém and Brazil are facing and what is being done to overcome them?

Belém's infrastructure represents the main challenge to host an event of the magnitude of COP30. “The city lacked the necessary infrastructure for an event of this magnitude,” says Suzan.

However, measures are being implemented. To host delegation participants from around the world, in addition to the official platform for hosting the COP, the government and society expanded the number of beds with adapted schools, military accommodations and religious spaces. Catholic and evangelical churches launched a solidarity platform for low-cost lodging, and authorities confirmed the use of cruises to temporarily reinforce the network. In the university field, the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) will host the COP Village, an initiative that will accommodate indigenous people.

The city's basic sanitation system has undergone significant expansion. With the works, more than 500 thousand people will benefit directly, which represents more than a third of the population of the capital of Pará, which totals almost 1.4 million inhabitants, and becomes a legacy of the event for the local community. Training programs in English were offered free of charge to residents, preparing the population to receive international visitors.

At the beginning of October, Corrêa do Lago praised the holding of the COP in the capital of Pará. “The more people come to Belém, the more people will discover the wonder that this city is and the way in which the world will be embraced by people,” he said during an official visit to the city.

Read more
Sustainable practices: how to adopt?

What should be the consequences of the COP for the Amazon region?

The legacy designed for Belém and the Amazon combines structural works and strategic positioning. According to Ana Toni, CEO of COP30, the conference should position Brazil as a provider of nature-based solutions, with the potential to attract investment and boost the regional economy and tourism. On the construction side, the federal package includes permanent improvements in sanitation, mobility, and quality of life. Corrêa do Lago has emphasized that the preparation is not “cosmetic” and praises the infrastructure of the City Park, which will host the meeting, as part of the urban and symbolic legacy for the region.

For indigenous peoples, COP30 represents an opportunity to amplify their voices. “In the Amazon, indigenous leaders will not be alone. They and all the indigenous peoples will be able to bring people to see real situations, not just listen to and watch videos,” explains Suzan. The conference can also strengthen national awareness about the importance of the Amazon. “Many people in Brazil didn't know what the COP was,” says the researcher, stressing the need for permanent environmental education.

Do events related to the COP take place only in the Amazon?

Although Belém is the official headquarters, parallel events take place in different Brazilian regions, democratizing access to climate discussions and engaging all biomes.

The São Paulo Climate Week, held from August 2 to 8, mobilized more than 10,000 participants in debates on technological innovation, energy transition, and climate justice. The Rio Climate Action Week, which took place from August 23 to 29, in partnership with London Climate Action Week, focused on the axes of the COP30 Action Agenda: transition in the energy, industry and transport sectors; sustainable management of forests, oceans and biodiversity; transformation of agriculture and food systems; building resilience in cities, infrastructure and water; promotion of human and social development.

In Brasilia, the pre-COP30, held from October 13 to 14, brought together international negotiators. Embrapa promoted “Climate Dialogues” in seven cities, covering Cerrado, Pantanal, Amazônia, Pampa, Atlantic Forest, and Caatinga. The Caatinga Climate Week, in Caruaru, which occupied the city between October 1 and 4, placed the only exclusively Brazilian biome at the center of the debate.

These are just a few examples and there will be other meetings throughout the months of October and November. This shows how the national mobilization reflects the importance of the moment. For Suzan, the essential thing is that the conference results in concrete actions: “The ideal is that this space be used for some important decision-making about mitigating and combating climate change in the coming years, in the next decade,” she concludes.

Conclusion

The COP30, based in the Amazon, is an opportunity to bring global decision makers closer to issues related to one of the most important biomes for climate regulation in the world. Held for the first time near a rainforest, the UN climate conference can still help give voice to indigenous peoples and riverine communities, important actors in the fight against the climate crisis.

‍