Food & Climate
Since Brazil announced it would host the COP30 (The UN Climate Change Conference) in Belém, it has faced widespread criticism due to the lack of sufficient housing to accommodate the expected number of visitors. However, the Brazilian ambassador to Egypt, Paulino Franco de Carvalho Neto, confirmed that the number exceeds the expected demand. In an interview with “Food & Climate” platform, he indicated that food security will be at the heart of the Conference’s agenda.
He added that Brazil is aware of the frustration caused by the failure to translate funding pledges into commitments at various climate Conferences, and is therefore aiming to shift from promises to implementation, transparency, and predictability.
The following is the text of the interview:
Q: Can you tell us about Brazil’s preparations to host the COP30 climate Conference in November?
A: Brazil is honored to host COP30 in Belém. It is a historic opportunity to bring the Amazon region, its biodiversity and its peoples to the center of global climate action.
The Federal Government is investing about BRL 4.7 billion (approx. $ 888 million) in infrastructure and logistics, including airport upgrades, accessible transport, and venue preparations.
At the same time, Brazil is advancing the political agenda through technical meetings, dialogues with civil society, and preparatory work such as the Pre-COP.”
Q: There have been numerous reports about the possibility of moving the COP30 climate conference venue from Belém due to the limited space available to host the conference’s guests. Despite your country’s confirmation that the venue will not be moved, many media outlets continue to criticize the hosting location. What is your comment?
A: Brazil has made it clear there is no plan to relocate COP30. Belém remains the host city.
The city has over 53,000 accommodation units, exceeding the expected demand. Concerns have been raised about logistics and costs, but the focus is on resolving them through infrastructure investment and coordination with the UNFCCC, not by moving the event.
Our position is firm: the COP will be held in the Amazon, as originally decided.
Q: What goals does Brazil seek to achieve at the COP30 Climate conference, and what will it contribute after the COP29 Climate Summit, which was held in the capital of Azerbaijan (Baku)?
A: Brazil’s Presidency is centered on making finance flow at the scale required. The Baku-to-Belém Roadmap aims to mobilize around $ 1.3 trillion annually by 2035. To this end, Brazil has launched the COP30 Circle of Finance Ministers, chaired by Minister Fernando Haddad, to convene finance ministers globally, together with experts, civil society and the private sector. Our priority is to turn political commitments into concrete mechanisms: reforming multilateral development banks, developing platforms for concessional and blended finance, and attracting credible new pledges that are actually delivered.
Q: Climate conferences make many financial promises, but they often go unfulfilled. What can Brazil do in this regard at the COP30 conference?
A: Brazil recognizes the frustration that large pledges have often not been followed by disbursement. Under our Presidency, the aim is to move from promises to implementation, transparency and predictability.
The Circle of Finance Ministers will deliver a report with actionable proposals on accountability, financial architecture reform, and clear timelines, so that COP30 outcomes are measurable and credible, especially for vulnerable countries depending on climate finance.
Q: What is the share of food security and agriculture in COP30?
A: Food systems will be a key theme. Brazil is committed to putting agriculture and food security at the heart of the COP30 agenda: sustainable farming, support for smallholders, resilient food production, and protection of rural livelihoods. Climate change directly affects food availability, so our discussions will link mitigation, adaptation and food security, ensuring that policies both lower emissions and strengthen resilience for farmers and consumers.
To give a concrete example, in 2024 Brazil launched the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty during our G20 Presidency. The Alliance brings together evidence-based solutions that connect social protection, food security, and climate-resilient smallholder agriculture. It demonstrates that climate action can deliver tangible, replicable benefits for development and for the fight against hunger worldwide.
Q: As Brazil prepares to host one of the most important climate conferences, the state-owned oil company Petrobras is pursuing drilling in the Amazonas Basin for oil and gas, sparking outrage among environmental activists, who claim that this drilling threatens the biodiversity of the Amazon region. What is your comment?
A: Regarding Petrobras, all exploration activity is subject to strict environmental licensing by IBAMA, Brazil’s federal environmental authority. No exploration may proceed without compliance with environmental standards and contingency planning. The Government has been clear: Brazil’s energy transition must advance within the law, with full environmental safeguards, and in parallel with rapid expansion of renewables.
Q: What measures are Brazil taking to protect the Amazon rainforest from recurring fires?
A: Brazil has strengthened enforcement against illegal deforestation, enhanced monitoring systems, improved fire prevention, and invested in rapid response. In 2023, deforestation in the Amazon fell by nearly 50% compared to 2022, and in the August 2023–July 2024 cycle it dropped by another 30% — the lowest level in almost a decade.
At the same time, Brazil is diversifying its energy mix by expanding wind and solar alongside hydropower, and promoting more efficient, sustainable agriculture. Renewables already account for almost 90% of Brazil’s electricity. These are ongoing but also long-term measures to protect our people and economy from climate shocks such as fires, droughts, and water stress.