Exorbitant hotel rates may block some countries from attending the COP30 climate summit. Delegations report room costs of hundreds of dollars per night. Smaller and poorer nations could send fewer delegates, weakening their influence over critical climate decisions.
The summit’s host, Brazil, picked Belém for its proximity to the Amazon rainforest. The hope was to highlight the storming threat facing the ecosystem and underscore the rainforest’s role in absorbing carbon. Yet, Belém only offers about 18,000 hotel rooms, far fewer than needed for an estimated 45,000 delegates. Organisers are scrambling to convert motels, cruise ships, and churches into lodgings.
Latvia’s climate minister, Kaspars Melnis, said his country had asked whether negotiators could join virtually. “We already basically have a decision that it’s too expensive for us,” he told Reuters. “It’s the first time it’s so expensive. We have a responsibility to our country’s budget.”
Lithuania signalled a similar stance after being quoted more than US$500 per person per night for a room. A Lithuanian energy ministry spokesperson said that negotiations would lose legitimacy if governments could not attend due to costs.
Authorities in Brazil, defending the summit, say each developing country will be offered 15 subsidised rooms below $220 per day. Wealthier nations would receive rooms below $600. The United Nations has also increased its subsidy support to low-income countries.
Yet, as of now, 81 countries are still negotiating hotel bookings, while 87 countries have confirmed reservations, according to the COP30 presidency. Evans Njewa, chair of the Least Developed Countries group, said, “We’re receiving a high volume of concerns … and numerous requests for support. Regrettably, our capacity is limited, which may affect the size of delegations.”
Ilana Seid, chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, warned that small island nations face a “severe disadvantage” if affordable lodging is unavailable. “Smaller delegations would leave island countries lacking expertise needed to effectively participate in negotiations which decide our future,” she said.
Brazil has rejected calls to move the summit. It insists that addressing the greenhouse challenge in the Amazon outweighs logistical hurdles. But for many vulnerable nations, the choice is stark: pay up or stay home.
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