Sky‑high Belém hotel rates threaten to lock out COP30 delegations

The United Nations' climate bureau have concerns that sky-high accommodation prices for this year's COP30 climate summit in Brazil could price poorer countries out of the negotiations, according to diplomats and a document seen by Reuters.

An urgent 'COP bureau' meeting was held on Tuesday with an agenda on 'operational and logistical preparations for the Climate Change Conference in Belem.'

During the meeting, Brazil pledged to tackle worries over lodging costs and promised a progress update at a follow‑up session on 11 August, according to Richard Muyungi, chair of the African Group of Negotiators who convened the meeting.

He said African countries wanted to avoid trimming their participation because of the cost. 

"We are not ready to cut down the numbers," Muyungi said. "We were assured that we will revisit that on the 11th, to get assurances on whether the accommodation will be adequate for all delegates," he added after the meeting. 

A diplomat privy of the discussions noted that both poorer and wealthier countries voiced concerns about the high costs. 

Belém's usual capacity of 18,000 hotel beds fall short of the some 45,000 delegates expected for COP30. To bridge this gap, Brazil has already chartered two cruise ships, adding 6,000 beds, and opened a block of rooms for developing countries at rates up to $220 per night. 

Even at the subsided rate, accommodation exceeds the U.N.'s daily substinence allowance of $149, leaving a $71 shortfall for low-income delegations. Meanwhile, private quotes seen by Reuters show some properties asking around $700 per person per night. 

Officials from six governments, including several wealthier European nations, still lack confirmed lodging and are preparing to reduce their teams. The Dutch government may cut its typical 90-member delegation down to roughly 45 participants, and Poland's deputy climate minister warned they might "cut down the delegation to the bone" or even skip the summit if rooms remain unaffordable. 

This meeting comes as Brazil prepares to host this November’s COP30, a rainforest city where nearly every country will meet for climate talks.

But with too few rooms and soaring hotel prices, developing nations say they may not be able to afford attendance.

Brazil’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment, though officials have repeatedly assured that affordable rooms will be available. A UNFCCC spokesperson also declined to comment. 

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