A letter sent Wednesday by senior officials from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to the Brazilian government demanding an immediate plan to address security and infrastructure bottlenecks during COP30 in Belem was embarrassing. Providing security and infrastructure is the least expected of organizers of debates about the future of the planet.
It is unfortunate that after the accommodation crisis that made headlines before the COP, we have seen fundamental problems that should have been foreseen. There were complaints about leaks and flooding in conference areas. Frequent rains in the capital, Pará, are now as predictable as the heat, and the erection of structures must take this into account. There were also complaints about a lack of water in bathrooms and malfunctioning refrigeration systems. As everyone knows, Belém is a hot city. One of the most frequently seen pictures at conferences is of foreigners and Brazilians fanning themselves.
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Even if the thermometer is high, it will not prevent you from holding a large-scale event. Of course, we do not build luxurious facilities, but it is a shame that Brazil cannot provide a comfortable environment for its visitors. He has done this several times as an organizer of big events.
Anxiety is also unacceptable. On Tuesday, about 150 protesters easily invaded conference facilities and reached the Blue Zone, where climate change talks are being held. The incident was deemed a “serious breach of the security regime” by the United Nations and raised concerns about organizers’ compliance with their obligations. Among the vulnerabilities are a lack of staffing, unsecured doors and no guarantee that federal and state authorities will respond to a break-in. A security guard was injured and buildings were damaged during the protests.
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Protests should not be treated harshly by the police, but if you don’t follow the rules, everything will be chaotic. It is hard to believe that protesters would invade restricted areas of the conference. This negligence is all the more alarming because Belém is a key point in a region besieged by criminal forces. Your security plan must be perfect. The government declared Operation Guarantee of Law and Order (GLO) to enlist military support. You’re just forgetting the basics.
COP30 President Ambassador Andre Correa de Lago said on Thursday that all issues mentioned in the letter have been “fully resolved.” “There have been technical issues, but I believe they are being resolved,” he said. But that doesn’t make the shame go away. It was predictable that Belém would not have the structure to host an event of this scale. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized the symbolism of holding the COP in the Amazon and insisted on keeping it as the headquarters. The hope is that the final stage will eliminate the “technical issues” and allow the UN and its negotiators to focus less on trivial issues and more on what matters: stopping global warming, which threatens humanity.
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