The irony, conservationists say, is that Brazil is cutting thousands of trees in the Amazon rainforest to build the 4-lane highway for a climate summit
GUWAHATI, March 13: Brazil is cutting thousands of trees in the Amazon rainforest to build a 4-lane highway for the upcoming COP30 climate summit in November 2025.
The four-lane highway, Avenida Liberdade, is being built near Belém, the host city.
The highway, stretching approximately eight miles, is intended to alleviate traffic congestion for the anticipated 50,000 attendees, including world leaders.
However, conservationists express deep concerns about the environmental impact, highlighting the irony of deforestation occurring to facilitate a climate summit aimed at promoting environmental conservation.
The construction bisects protected areas, potentially disrupting wildlife habitats and leading to biodiversity loss.
The local state government defends the project as a “sustainable” infrastructure improvement, citing features like wildlife crossings, bicycle lanes, and solar lighting.
Nonetheless, critics argue that the environmental costs outweigh these benefits, emphasizing the contradiction of environmental degradation occurring in the name of a climate conference.
