SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES
The Amazon basin is known as the Earth’ s lungs. So what better place to hold COP30 than Belém, in the heart of the South American rainforest? Following the controversy-dogged COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, there are high hopes that this Conference of the Parties will breathe new life into a brand that was becoming synonymous with lobbying and political obfuscation.
But the location has thrown up new problems, which threaten to overshadow the sole purpose of COP30 – to advance climate action.
The lowdown on the location From 10-21 November, Belém, the capital of Pará state, Brazil, will be rammed to the rafters with politicians, diplomats, business leaders, sustainability executives, lobbyists and journalists.
COP30 is widely trailed as the most important climate conference since Paris 2015 and more than 60,000 people are expected to attend.
Its location is no accident: it is soaked with symbolism. Discussions about the survival of the planet are being held where its breath is formed and where 15-20 % of global freshwater is stored.
Helder Barbalho, Governor of host Pará state, says:“ COP30 is an opportunity to hold climate discussions surrounded by the world’ s largest rainforest.”
Belém’ s infrastructure has undergone massive transformation to accommodate the conference.
Federal, state and municipal authorities have coordinated extensive preparations, designed to create lasting benefits beyond the conference dates.
Sweeping programme with 30 themes The COP30 presidency has unveiled an ambitious Thematic Days calendar spanning more than 30 interconnected themes.
The programme is flagged as“ a catalyst for implementation
118 October 2025