The construction of a road in Brazil draws criticism before first-ever climate talks in the Amazon

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🗞️ Driving the news: A controversial new road project in Belem, Brazil — host city of the upcoming COP30 U.N. climate summit — has sparked criticism for cutting through one of the city’s last protected rainforest areas
• The 13-kilometer "Liberdade" expressway, under construction ahead of the November conference, has alarmed environmentalists who warn it could open the door to deforestation and illegal development

🔭 The context: Belem, a sprawling metropolis on the edge of the Amazon, is the first Amazonian city to host the U.N. climate talks
• While the avenue was planned before Belem was selected as host, its construction through a green zone protected since 1993 appears at odds with the conservation ethos COP30 aims to promote
• Brazil's government insists the road is unrelated to the summit, though the project timeline aligns with the event and has been widely interpreted as linked

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Amazon is a critical carbon sink, and any degradation weakens global climate regulation efforts
• Roadbuilding is one of the main drivers of deforestation in the region, often triggering unregulated urban expansion and habitat loss
• The Liberdade road risks undermining Brazil’s climate credibility and could distract from COP30’s central aim: protecting Amazonian biodiversity and indigenous territories

⏭️ What's next: The road is expected to be completed just before COP30 begins on November 10
• Officials claim development along the road will be prohibited, but precedent across Brazil suggests enforcement will be difficult
• The project will likely feature prominently during the summit, where Brazil’s broader environmental policies — including support for oil drilling near the Amazon River mouth — will face international scrutiny

💬 One quote: “It’s hard to imagine a road being built along the banks of the Guama River without it leading to illegal development. It may lead to the end of this protected area.” — Roberta Rodrigues, Federal University of Para

📈 One stat: The protected zone affected by the road spans an area slightly larger than Manhattan, containing lakes, a river basin, and restored rainforest

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