Bloomberg: Accommodation crunch threatens COP30 attendance

Several countries may lower their level of participation at the 30th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP30) or skip the event entirely due to a shortage of accommodations and high lodging costs in the Brazilian city of Belém, Bloomberg reports.

Organisers are currently trying to secure as many rooms as possible for the tens of thousands of expected attendees. However, the city lacks sufficient accommodations, forcing authorities to book hotel rooms and even cruise ship cabins.

According to Evans Njewa, a representative of a group of more than 40 invited countries, a “significant number” of them “may either not attend or only be present in Brazil for a few days.”

Sophie Hermans, the Netherlands’ Minister of Climate Policy and Green Growth, stated that her country’s delegation will be smaller than last year. She explained that the government must consider expenses, despite the critical importance of energy and climate issues.

So far, 87 out of 196 countries participating in the format have confirmed accommodation bookings in Belém.

By Vugar Khalilov