Thousands of acres of Amazon rainforest are being cleared to build a four-lane highway that will transport delegates to the COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil later this year, according to reports.
Many on the internet are pointing out the clear hypocrisy over this news, with some users writing “you can’t make this up.”
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The construction project is underway near the Brazilian city of Belém, which is preparing to host more than 50,000 attendees at the United Nations climate conference in November.
Local officials say the new highway is necessary to ease traffic congestion expected during the event.
“The road will serve people for COP30 in the best possible way,” a state government infrastructure secretary told reporters.
The highway is just one of many infrastructure projects being rushed to completion as the city undergoes “modernization” ahead of the international gathering.
One outraged X user said, “Elites are destroying the environment so they can have a conference about climate change.”
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Environmental impact concerns have emerged as construction crews clear a path through protected areas. The partially built road already stretches more than 13 kilometers (8 miles) through previously untouched rainforest, per the BCC.
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“Lush rainforest towers on either side – a reminder of what was once there,” the outlet reported.
“Logs are piled high in the cleared land… Diggers and machines carve through the forest floor, paving over wetland to surface the road which will cut through a protected area.”
Officials have announced some environmental mitigation measures, including animal crossings to allow wildlife to safely traverse the highway and solar-powered lighting along the route.
Environmentalists, however, question whether these measures adequately address the significant habitat destruction already underway.
The controversy extends beyond the highway construction. Many attendees will most likely arrive at the climate summit via private jets before using the newly constructed road.
This is not the first time a UN climate conference has faced criticism for its environmental impact.
Previous summits have generated significant carbon footprints despite their focus on addressing climate challenges.
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Then-President Biden’s climate czar, John Kerry, gave a fiery response after he was confronted by a reporter last year in Switzerland who asked about his carbon footprint in January 2024.
A reporter with Rebel News asked Kerry, “What’s the carbon footprint of these events every single year that you come here? Do you think it’s worth it — peasants paying for your crimes?”
Kerry responded, “That’s a stupid question,” adding, “Nobody ever suggested that. Don’t make up stupid questions,” he said when asked a follow-up question about why his carbon footprint didn’t matter.”
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Then-Vice President Kamala Harris took heat back in 2023 when she urged rich countries to “do more” to keep pace with an agenda of preventing the global temperature from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“The U.S. is committed to expanding international climate finance,” Harris said.
“I am proud to announce a new $3 billion pledge to the Green Climate Fund to help developing countries access capital to invest in resilience, clean energy, and nature-based solutions.”
