Funding for sponsored posts contrasts with criticism of the structure and logistics of COP30 in Belém
Since the opening of the Leaders’ Summit on Climate, on November 6, the federal government has spent R$724,800 to promote publications about COP30 on the social networks Facebook and Instagram. The event, led by Brazil, is held in Belém (PA) until November 21st.
According to data from Meta, most of the funds were applied November 6th to 9th: R$643.5 thousand. During this period, the event received its first criticisms. Reports from Poder360 highlighted those in Belém – espresso coffee for R$ 25 and quiches for R$ 45 – in addition to the estimated cost that they will be consumed by the vessel used as a hotel by the president (PT).
Since then, government advertisements have sought to highlight the image that Brazil “takes care of the climate with action and leadership”. The posts also feature images of indigenous peoples and texts that seek to convey the idea that the country is committed to the environmental cause.
On November 6, the government spent money to promote a 30-second video announcing the holding of COP30 in the country. “We will not stop facing climate change in the world”says an indigenous child at the beginning of the advertisement. The media reached more than 1 million views, according to Meta Ad Library. Watch below:
In none of the advertisements is there any mention of any of the recent complaints about the event. The national news has been reporting on the summit’s infrastructure problems: roofs with , in the pavilion during protest, and on deadline.
The Brazilian government has spent R$81,200 on network advertising since the official announcement of COP30 on November 10. In total, the amount invested since November 6 was higher than what the government spent on posts about public security after the mega-operation in Rio de Janeiro, which left 121 people dead. On that occasion, .
See some examples of posts promoted by the government:
