COP30 Accommodation Crisis Threatens Global Climate Negotiations
Accommodation shortages and high prices at COP30 in Brazil have caused concern, with some countries contemplating reduced delegations or absenting themselves entirely. Hardest hit are small island states facing climate threats, while organisers scramble to convert non-traditional spaces into lodgings.
Countries are confronting a daunting challenge at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil as a severe accommodation shortage and soaring prices push some delegates to rethink their attendance plans. With hotel costs reaching hundreds of dollars per night, small island states, particularly vulnerable to climate change, may have to reduce their delegation sizes.
In response, COP30 organisers are frantically transforming cruise ships, love motels, and churches into temporary accommodations for the 45,000 expected participants. Brazil hopes hosting the event in Belem, near the Amazon rainforest, will underscore the region's vital role in absorbing climate-warming emissions.
The high accommodation costs have prompted nations like Latvia and Lithuania to reconsider their participation, citing financial constraints. The situation threatens the quality and inclusivity of climate negotiations. Brazilian authorities promise limited affordable lodging and the UN has increased subsidies for low-income countries, but the accommodation crunch remains a significant concern.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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