Talks at the Cop30 climate summit in Brazil were thrown into confusion on Thursday after a fire broke out at the conference centre in Belém, forcing a full evacuation as negotiators were attempting to secure a landmark deal on fossil fuels. Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation, organisers confirmed.
The fire, which erupted in a pavilion area, was brought under control within six minutes. Local fire officials believe it was caused by an electrical device, likely a microwave. UN security and Brazilian firefighters responded swiftly, and all delegates were evacuated safely.
The disruption came as UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged delegates to reach an agreement, particularly on a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels—a contentious issue at the summit. The Cop30 presidency had been preparing a draft text on the so-called “mutirão” decision, which includes a commitment to transition away from oil, gas and coal.
With the venue cleared for several hours, a series of crucial meetings were cancelled or postponed. The Alliance of Small Island States and the EU had been scheduled to meet the presidency, but those plans were thrown into doubt. The incident is expected to delay the talks, which are due to conclude on Friday evening, potentially pushing them into overtime.
