Brazil brushes off UN call for hotel subsidy in tense COP30 climate talks
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A hotel under construction ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, on July 16.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BRASILIA - Brazil’s government ruled out the idea of subsidising all delegates’ hotel fares at the United Nations climate summit it will host in November, Brazilian officials said on Aug 22, after what they described as a tense meeting with UN officials.
The stand-off comes as delegations grow increasingly panicked about the cost of accommodations in the coastal Amazon host city of Belem.
Brazil is working to nearly double available hotel beds, and entrepreneurs have gotten creative, converting love motels and ferryboats to receive delegations.
But supply has still fallen short of demand, sending prices soaring and stoking calls to relocate the conference, known as COP30, which Brazilian officials have rejected.
During the meeting on Aug 22, officials linked to the Brazilian presidency said the UN climate secretariat, known as UNFCCC, had called for a hotel subsidy of US$100 (S$128) per day for delegates from developing nations and US$50 for delegates from rich nations.
Ms Miriam Belchior, executive secretary to the President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s chief of staff, dismissed the idea.
“The Brazilian government is already bearing significant costs for hosting the COP, so there is no way to subsidise delegations from other countries, including delegations from countries that are far richer than Brazil,” she told journalists after the meeting.
The UNFCCC did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Ms Belchior reiterated that changing the host city was out of the question.
Instead, Brazil suggested that the UN increase its US$144 daily allowance for delegates from the poorest nations.
But hotel rates in Belem have ranged from twice to 20 times that much.
The UN has resisted calls to adjust its allowances, citing the time usually required to approve such changes.
So far, 39 countries have made accommodation reservations through the official COP30 platform, while eight others have negotiated directly or through other platforms. REUTERS
