Brazil is facing criticism for cutting down large sections of the Amazon rainforest to build a road for the upcoming COP30 climate summit, according to The Telegraph. The road is being constructed to accommodate tens of thousands of delegates travelling to the UN climate conference, but many are questioning Brazil's commitment to environmental protection. Critics argue that destroying parts of the rainforest for a climate event is contradictory and harmful to the ecosystem.

The Amazon is crucial in absorbing carbon and is home to a vast range of wildlife. According to The Telegraph, local communities say the new road is destroying their livelihoods, while conservationists warn that it poses a serious threat to wildlife moving through the forest. The loss of trees could also impact global efforts to fight climate change.

As reported by the BBC, the four-lane highway aims to ease traffic to the host city, which is expected to welcome over 50,000 people, including world leaders, in November. While the state government promotes the road’s "sustainable" design, many environmentalists and locals remain outraged. They argue that deforestation for a climate summit goes against the very mission of protecting the planet.

Claudio Verequete, who lives just 200 meters from the new road, has already felt the impact of the construction. He used to earn a living by harvesting acai berries from trees that once stood there. "Everything was destroyed," he told the BBC. "Our harvest has already been cut down. We no longer have that income to support our family."

Meanwhile, Brazil’s president and environment minister are defending the project, calling COP30 a historic event. They emphasize that this will be "a COP in the Amazon, not a COP about the Amazon." The president says the summit will highlight the needs of the Amazon, showcase the forest to the world, and demonstrate the federal government's efforts to protect it. However, many critics argue that clearing the rainforest for a climate conference sends the wrong message.

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