Residents say they were not briefed by the city on COP30 and fear the meeting will bring little real change to the general population.
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Similar to the app drivers interviewed, Belém residents reported a lack of information and relevance to COP30, noted the limited impact on local residents, and were concerned that little substantive change had occurred.
uber driver Edinaldo Paes55 years old, was born and lives in Belém (Pennsylvania), but has traveled throughout Brazil. I lived in Natal, Fortaleza, Recife and São Paulo. I lived in the capital, São Paulo, for a long time. Back in Belém, he was working at COP30 and spoke to Bissan de Collet during the race, which started at the tournament headquarters.
According to him, There was no public relations with explanations that residents could understand. About what global environmental events will be like. “They said the whole world would be watching Belem in the Amazon,” he sums up.
What little drivers know about COP30 is what they glean from their passengers and what they watch on the news at home at night. The driver’s statement is work 8 to 10 hours a dayshows the dimensions of how COP30 will reach the general public in Belém.
How is COP 30 going?
It was inconvenient after it was announced. Belém does not have a culture of working at night, everything is done during the day. Traffic congestion also worsened, but improved as renovations were completed. No one knew what was going to happen, and the problem of accommodation costs arose. That was an unknown.
Has the cost of transportation in the app increased significantly?
That was expected, but considering the volume and demand, it was not a good idea to raise the price too high. There’s no need, it’s working.
Yesterday, the taxi driver wanted to charge me 100 reais for a 10 minute journey.
On weekends when there is an event or show, the guy might turn off the app, stop in front of the event, and set his desired price. We are doing the same thing at COP30.
But are apps always cheaper?
No, the opposite also happens. If two or three flights arrive at the airport at the same time, the app’s prices become dynamic, so it’s better to take a taxi. At the airport, taxis cannot charge the price they want and must run on a taximeter or device.
-1ib8rhrsvz5m8.jpg "Admission to COP30 in Belen (Pennsylvania). Although the city has improved, ordinary residents seem to have been left out of the discussion.")
Are you concerned about environmental issues in Pará?
I don’t follow much, but today’s conversation made me realize that there is a lot to discuss and practice. I know they’ll meet, they’ll decide some things, but it doesn’t really get through to a layman like me. It doesn’t appear as a solution. To be honest, I don’t think anything will happen.
Do you know about Amazon Fund?
I have no knowledge.
Do you and your family talk about COP30 at home?
We talk about the situation in the city, but not about the content of the COP itself. That’s the same as I say. Those who discuss are more enthusiastic and have specific knowledge. Other than that, it’s just what I’ve heard.
Were the residents of Belém prepared for what COP30 would be like?
No, there wasn’t. The main perspective they conveyed to the public was that while the world will be watching Belém in the Amazon, what will be discussed, what issues are not being publicized or being adequately communicated, and that the public should know and be encouraged to know about these subjects and themes.
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