Brazil offers free cruise cabins as poorer nations struggle for rooms at COP30

Dozens of countries have yet to secure accommodation for their delegations at the COP30 climate summit, just a week before it begins, prompting host nation Brazil to offer free cruise ship cabins to poorer states in a last-minute effort to guarantee their participation.

Around 50,000 delegates are expected to gather in the Amazonian city of Belém from 10 to 21 November to negotiate new climate targets. However, preparations have been beset by logistical challenges: the city normally has only 18,000 hotel beds, sending room prices soaring to several hundred dollars per night.

By 31 October, Brazil’s government said 149 countries had confirmed lodging arrangements, while 37 were still in talks.

Brazil pledges inclusivity for vulnerable nations

Brazil has promised that even the poorest and most climate-vulnerable nations will be able to attend and make their voices heard at the U.N. summit. Rising accommodation costs had already triggered emergency discussions after several African and small island states warned they could not afford to participate despite subsidies provided by Brazil and the U.N.

A leaked email seen by Reuters revealed that Brazil recently offered three free cabins aboard cruise ships docked in Belém to delegations from low-income countries.

According to the email, sent by the U.N. climate secretariat (UNFCCC), the cabins would be funded by "private donors" and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, with coordination handled by Brazil’s government and the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP).

“These cabins will be offered free of charge to your delegation,” the message read, describing them as supplementary to existing hotel bookings.

Neither the UNFCCC nor the UNDP commented on the matter.

COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago said last week that the free cabins would be allocated to African countries, small island developing states, and Least Developed Countries — about 96 nations in total, according to Reuters calculations.

"With this initiative, we will ensure that all developing countries can be represented at COP30", Corrêa do Lago said.

Meanwhile, several wealthier European nations have reportedly considered skipping this year’s climate talks after being quoted accommodation rates exceeding $500 per person per night.

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