The UN climate bureau has held an urgent meeting about concerns that soaring accommodation prices at this year's Cop30 summit in Brazil could exclude poorer countries from negotiations. Developing nations have warned they cannot afford rates in Belém, the rainforest city hosting the November talks, amid a severe shortage of rooms.
At a Tuesday meeting of the UN's Cop bureau, Brazil agreed to address the issue and report back by 11 August, said Richard Muyungi, chair of the African Group of Negotiators. 'We are not ready to cut down the numbers,' he said, adding that Brazil must provide better answers rather than telling countries to limit delegations.
Brazil has faced criticism for choosing the small city of Belém, which has 18,000 hotel beds but expects 45,000 attendees. The government has secured two cruise ships providing 6,000 extra beds and opened affordable bookings up to $220 per night, but this still exceeds the UN daily subsistence allowance of $149. Wealthier countries face rates of up to $600.
Several European governments said they may reduce participation. The Dutch government may halve its 90-person delegation, while Poland's deputy climate minister warned: 'We'll probably have to cut down the delegation to the bone.' Two UN diplomats reported quotes of about $700 per night from Belém hotels.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva previously told critics that if hotels were unavailable, they should 'sleep under the stars'. Brazil's foreign ministry did not comment.
