President Lula da Silva said Brazil will hold the conference, known as COP 30, in the city of Belem, Para State, in the heart of the Brazilian rainforest. The location reflects Lula’s intention to highlight the Amazon region.
“It will be an honor for Brazil to welcome representatives from all over the world to our Amazon,” Lula said in a video posted on its social media channels. “I’ve been to COPs in Egypt, Paris and Copenhagen and all people talk about is the Amazon. So I said, why don’t we go there so everyone can see what it’s like there?”
Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, says in the video that the decision was made by the UN on May 18. The UN has yet to confirm the location.
Lula’s announcement comes the same week his government’s environmental stewardship has faced significant headwinds from Brazil’s Congress. Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a measure limiting the Environment Ministry’s control over forest and coastal development. Congress is also debating this week whether the state oil company should be allowed to drill off the coast in the Amazon states of Amapa and Para.
This year’s UN climate conference will take place in Dubai.