COP30 negotiations halted after blaze at Belém conference venue

Negotiations at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil were unexpectedly halted on November 20 after a fire broke out inside the conference venue, forcing participants to evacuate just as delegates were gearing up for a pivotal phase of discussions aimed at strengthening global climate action.

According to organisers, thirteen people required medical attention for smoke inhalation after the blaze erupted in the pavilion section of the Belém conference centre. The fire was quickly contained, but the disruption came at a critical moment of the summit.

Local fire authorities told Reuters that the incident was believed to have been caused by an electrical appliance, most likely a microwave, though the exact cause was still under investigation. The blaze was brought under control within minutes.

“Earlier today, a fire broke out in the blue zone of the COP30 venue in Belém,” the United Nations organisers said in a statement, noting the rapid response by emergency teams. “The fire department and UN security officers responded swiftly, and the fire was controlled in approximately six minutes. People were evacuated safely. Thirteen individuals were treated on site for smoke inhalation. Their condition is being monitored, and appropriate medical support has been provided.”

The disruption occurred only hours after the UN secretary general, António Guterres, urged countries to reach an agreement at the summit. He welcomed demands from some negotiators for clearer commitments on the highly contentious issue of phasing out fossil fuels.

The entire complex was emptied shortly after 2 pm local time. 

The fire derailed a tightly planned sequence of meetings. The COP30 presidency had been preparing a new version of the “mutirão” decision — the central element of the summit’s potential outcome, which until Thursday contained a possible pledge to develop a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Before the evacuation, the presidency had been engaged in a round of high-stakes consultations with the major negotiating blocs.

By Tamilla Hasanova