Brazil is juggling places at COP30. Delegations receive, among others: cabins on cruise ships

Dozens of countries are still looking for accommodation for their delegations to the COP30 climate conference in Belem, Brazil. Brazilian authorities are offering poorer countries free accommodation in cruise ship cabins so they can participate in the conference, Reuters reported on Saturday.

The conference in the city of Belem, located among the rainforests, will be held on November 10-21. About 50,000 are expected. delegates from almost all countries in the world. This is a logistical challenge, because hotels in Belem usually have only 18,000 rooms. places, and accommodation prices increased due to COP30 to several hundred dollars per night.

By Friday, 149 countries had reserved accommodation for their delegations, but 37 countries were still negotiating on this matter, the Brazilian government announced.

The Brazilian authorities assured that COP30 will be a forum where the voices of even the poorest and most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change will be heard. The UN has already had to organize emergency meetings in response to complaints from African and island countries that they would not be able to cover the high costs of accommodation, even though the UN and Brazil subsidized them.

Last week, Brazil offered three cabins for free on cruise ships moored in Belem to delegations from low-income countries, according to e-mail correspondence seen by Reuters. This information has not been officially confirmed yet.

COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago announced last week that free cabins would be offered to African countries, small island countries and countries considered by the UN to be least developed. In total, as Reuters calculated, this could mean about 96 countries.

– This will be significant support for all developing countries to be present at COP, said Correa do Lago.

Meanwhile, some wealthier European countries suggested that they may refrain from participating in this year's global climate conference after learning about hotel stay prices exceeding $500 per person per night – recalled Reuters. (PAP)

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