Many countries are saying no to ‘unthinkable’ room costs for U.N. climate talks

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: With less than two months until COP30, the UN climate summit set in Belém, Brazil, global delegates are sounding alarm over exorbitant lodging prices—some exceeding $1,000 per night
• The price surge, driven by limited accommodation capacity and speculative pricing, is threatening participation by negotiators from low-income and climate-vulnerable countries
• One official portal even lists a “love motel” charging $6,660 for a minimum 15-night stay

🔭 The context: Belém, located at the gateway to the Amazon, was selected to host COP30 as a symbolic choice highlighting the urgency of rainforest protection
• However, unlike previous host cities such as Dubai or Paris, Belém lacks the infrastructure to accommodate the expected 50,000 attendees
• To bridge the shortfall, Brazil is bringing in two cruise ships and encouraging private rentals—but price speculation has spiraled out of control
• Several negotiators, including from Chad and Panama, have warned they may be unable to attend without intervention

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The affordability crisis risks excluding the very countries most impacted by climate change—undermining both equity and legitimacy at COP30
• Without broad representation, especially from the Global South, critical discussions on emissions targets, loss and damage, and adaptation funding may be compromised
• The situation also highlights persistent disparities in global climate diplomacy, where wealthier nations often dominate decision-making spaces

⏭️ What's next: Brazilian officials have pledged price caps—$600 per night for wealthier countries and $200 for developing nations—but these apply only to a small number of rooms
• Investigations into hotel pricing are under way, but penalties are unlikely before the summit
• With most delegations still holding off on bookings, pressure is building for Brazil and the UNFCCC to implement stronger cost-control mechanisms or risk damaging the credibility of COP30

💬 One quote: “This is not a logistical hiccup. This is insanity and insulting.” – Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, Chief Climate Negotiator, Panama

📈 One stat: Only 15 of the 1,677 listings on the official COP30 booking portal are priced below $250 per night, far exceeding the UN per diem allowance of $144 for most delegations

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