Background

Belém to Host COP 30

Belém is the capital and largest city in the state of Pará in northern Brazil. It is considered “the gateway to the Amazon” due to its location as a port city in the Amazon River Delta. These geographical features and accompanying political influences are the primary reasons why Belém will host the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 30), or simply COP 30, in 2025. It is undeniable that Belém does not currently have the proper infrastructure to support such a large event. The construction of buildings, ports, and roadways along with the implementation of new sanitation, water, and waste systems to pull off COP 30 will disproportionately affect the marginalized local communities within and surrounding Belém. These impacts will exacerbate the ongoing effects of climate change in Belém which include urban heat islands and flooding among other challenges.

History of Mega-Events in Brazil

Two mega-events in recent years have set the framework for Brazil's capacity and capability to handle COP30: the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2014 World Cup. Rio was the first location in South America to host any Olympics [1]. In their bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, they advertised sustainability and environmental protection as a theme of the Games. The organizing committee promised many sustainable initiatives such as improvements to public transportation and favela infrastructure, renovation of the sewer system, and planting of 24 million seedlings [2]. Many of these promises were not kept - the seedlings are 60 miles from Rio still in pots on a farm, and the 12,000 trees planted in Olympic areas are dying from lack of maintenance [3]. The event was greenwashed, with small, visible changes implemented such as a smaller Olympic cauldron [4], medals made using recycled materials, and no flowers given to medalists [5]. Rio was heavily criticized for "lack of legacy planning" with many construction projects abandoned shortly after the Games [1]. The Rio Olympics cost around R$100 billion ($20 billion USD) with the city of Rio footing R$43.3 billion ($13.2 billion USD) of the bill. Total revenue for the games was under R$45 billion ($9 billion USD), most of which went to the IOC rather than the city of Rio [6]. However, the city's gross GDP per capita was raised by 7.5% in the period leading up to the games, which helped mitigate the recession at the time [7].

Sao Paulo hosting the 2014 World Cup led to many mixed opinions from locals. Jobs were temporary and didn't provide much long-term benefit other than programs such as "Acreditar" which allowed for free experience and labor qualifications [8]. Residents felt that improvements to the city were not for their benefit but rather for the tourists, and some changes caused harm such as diverting the river which led to flooding [8]. Twelve stadiums across all main regions of Brazil were used to host the tournament. Protests regarding spending for the event were widespread across the country in 2013 leading up to the event [9]. In total, the World Cup cost R$74.72 billion ($15 billion USD), most of which was public money. FIFA gave a R$498 million ($100 million USD) "legacy" payment to Brazil after the tournament but the organization generated R$24 billion ($4.8 billion USD) in revenue from it [10]. 

COP Background

COP 28 Dubai

The most recent COP, held in Dubai, was met with controversy due to Sultan al-Jaber being appointed president of the conference. Al-Jaber is a known oil tycoon and has previously denied climate science, drawing into question the integrity of COP28 and the motives behind discussions being held. Fossil fuel conversations went into overtime. Phrasing was controversially changed from "phase down" or "phase out" to "wean off" fossil fuels in a commitment agreed upon by attendees [21]. These controversies lead to questions of loyalties and morals at future COPs, including COP30.

COP 25 Madrid

In 2019, COP 25 was moved to Madrid from its planned location in Chile due to high levels of civil unrest in the country [27]. This change was made less than two months before the conference, showing precedent for relocating COP. According to the agreemement for UNFCCC, the conference should be held in Bonn, Germany unless a member offers to host it [28].

Poor Infrastructure Mega-Event: World Cup Qatar

Research indicates that the effects of major events are primarily harmful and their positive outcomes only last a short period of time. Qatar attempted to mitigate such harm by implementing temporary infrastructure, which is an alternative for cities with less permanent uses for event spaces [15]. However, such short-term construction and lack of planning allowed for excessive human rights violations both in preparation for and during the tournament . Workers rights were not respected and they were not paid a living wage. The event also heavily exploited migrant workers, some of whom paid more to travel to Qatar than they were returned in wages [16]. Temporary infrastructure can still be a sustainable solution like the stadiums built to be taken down and reused elsewhere. Doha did not have use for all of the event spaces, so some constructions were designed to be disassembled and moved to developing nations in need of arenas [17]. Sadly, there has been no rush to carry out this deconstruction and most of Stadium 974 remains intact. Broken promises plagued the 2022 World Cup and their poor infrastructure seems to be no exception.

Belo Monte Dam Controversy 

The Belo Monte Dam is a large dam built to the southwest of Belém in the state of Pará. The dam is a strong indicator of possible corruption and harmful practices by construction companies in the region. Belo Monte ignored conventions that ensure affected Indigenous communities must give their "free, prior, and informed consent" to such projects [18]. Plenty of efforts by Brazilians and international organizers were arranged to stop construction of the dam [19], yet the company skirted legal implications and delays by applying a law that allows illegal projects to go forward in order to "avoid damage to the public economy" [20]. Belo Monte is currently facing twenty lawsuits from Indigenous populations in the region, only one of which has been settled-on the side of the Indigenous people [18]. This tale warns of possible implications if construction companies are allowed unregulated access to construction of COP30 facilities. Local Indigenous communities must be consulted and any illegalities must be addressed swiftly and harshly to ensure such corruption does not happen in Belém.

Vale Mining Company to Fund COP 30

Whispers of similar mixed motives regarding COP30 are centered on one main actor: the multinational corporation and mining company Vale. Two of the main infrastructure projects announced by the state of Pará are funded by Vale. This company has shouldered responsibility for two of the worst environmental disasters in Brazilian history - two dam collapses, killing 289 people [22]. These tragedies were caused by construction and design flaws [23] and falsified safety reports [24]. Vale also has a long history of violating Indigenous rights and destroying the forest [22]. Vale is the largest producer of nickel and iron ore in the world [25] and the most valuable company in Latin America, making its influence strong and undeniable [26]. Proactive actions must be taken to ensure that Vale does not gain leverage or favorable support during climate discussions at the event due to their contribution to the infrastructure.

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