The climate has heated up in Belém. The secretary of the UNFCCC, a branch of the United Nations, Simon Stiell, sent a letter to the Brazilian government on Wednesday, 12th, demanding improvements in security and infrastructure at the United Nations Climate Summit (COP-30).
In the document, Stiell cites the episode of Tuesday, 11th, when a group of protesters invaded the Blue Zone, where only accredited people can enter. Stiell claims that Brazilian security forces were instructed not to act to contain protesters and cites problems such as the lack of air conditioning and water leaks in some areas of the conference pavilions. The content of the letter came to light this Thursday, the 13th, and the Lula government rushed to try to contain the crisis, minimizing criticism.
In the economic field, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) prepared announcements totaling US$6 billion (R$31.7 billion), according to the institution’s president, Ilan Goldfajn.
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UN complains about security and air conditioning problems
The United Nations (UN) sent a letter to the Brazilian government this Wednesday, 12th, harshly criticizing the security and infrastructure of the United Nations Climate Summit (COP-30). In a three-page letter, the secretary of the UNFCCC (UN climate arm), Simon Stiell, states that Brazilian security forces were instructed not to act to contain protesters and cites problems such as the lack of air conditioning and water leaks in some locations in the Blue Zone, the area where negotiations take place.
The letter was revealed by Bloomberg and confirmed by Estadão, which also had access to the document.
What is the tug of war like in the tense negotiation of COP-30
One of the main items on the agenda of the United Nations Climate Summit (COP-30), adaptation (policies to reduce the impact of catastrophes and other damages from global warming) faces an impasse at the conference.
In the negotiation rooms, countries discuss parameters to measure adaptation to the climate crisis, which make up the Global Adaptation Goal (GGA).
Tense meetings had disagreements regarding the indicators and the deadline to define the global goal at this COP. The disagreements place Arab, African and Latin American countries at the center of the table, and have as a backdrop the recurring clash over financing that pits poor and developed countries against each other. READ MORE HERE
IDB announcements for climate finance total US$6 billion
For the first week of COP-30, the UN summit on climate change taking place in Belém (PA), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) prepared announcements totaling US$6 billion (R$31.7 billion). “We focus on several initiatives and instruments. Just from what we are doing, it amounted to US$6 billion. If everyone contributes their US$6 billion, I assure you that it adds up to a lot”, said the president of the institution, Ilan Goldfajn.
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The biggest project will be announced on Friday the 14th: US$3.4 billion to offer foreign exchange hedging to companies and investors. Another project that will be announced on Friday is Reinvestir+. He envisions the IDB buying successful sustainable projects such as renewable energy, adding guarantees to them and selling them to institutional investors. These are projects with debts owed to banks, which will come off the balance sheet of these financial institutions. The measure will give banks the capacity to finance new “green” projects – if they participate in the program, they will be obliged to do so.
Gifts become currency in Belém
Fan from Portugal, panda tiara from China, a piece of paper with your name written in Turkey’s handwriting… These are some of the gifts distributed by countries at COP-30 – the UN summit on Climate Change taking place in Belém – and which, in some cases, are used as bargaining chips for the participant to attend a lecture.
This distribution of gifts takes place in the Blue Zone, the negotiation area. At the location, before reaching the meeting rooms, the participant passes through a pavilion where the countries have stands with programs for debates and panels related to climate and where they also distribute gifts related to their cultures.
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Environment Minister dismissed during COP
South Africa’s Minister of Forests, Fisheries and Environment, Dion George, was fired by his country’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, while participating in the United Nations Climate Summit (COP-30), in Belém. The president did not explain the reason for the abrupt decision; he merely announced that George was being replaced by Willem Aucamp, spokesman for the Democratic Alliance party.
According to the South African press, the dismissal would have occurred at the request of the Democratic Alliance, which has 12 ministries in Ramaphosa’s government.
