Why Rising Costs Are Keeping Many Away from Upcoming UN Climate Talks in Brazil

Pooja Tilvawala is putting over $46,000 of her own savings into getting young people to the UN climate summit in Brazil. It’s a big risk, but she believes it’s essential.

As the summit approaches in November, finding affordable accommodation has become a challenge. Many activists and delegates haven’t confirmed their housing yet. They worry about the rising costs, as even budget options are now charging hundreds of dollars a night.

Tilvawala has set up a housing portal for young people interested in attending the conference. She knows that powerful voices from fossil fuel companies will be present, and she wants young activists to have their say. “We need to be here,” she says.

A spokesperson for the conference indicates that only about 36% of participating nations have booked accommodations at this time. This adds to the anxiety, especially as hotel prices continue to surge.

To counter this, the Brazilian government has introduced some solutions. Climate Minister Marina Silva mentioned that they have secured 10 to 20 rooms at lower prices for vulnerable nations and even brought in large cruise ships to house as many as 6,000 attendees.

However, the situation is still tricky. There’s a construction strike affecting work for COP30, which could complicate matters further.

Belem, the host city, hoped to showcase its hospitality. Local expert Arnaldo Vaz Neto shared that the reality of high international accommodation expectations clashed with local capabilities. This challenge isn’t unique to Belem; similar price hikes have occurred at previous UN climate conferences.

According to Silva, the government considers rooms renting for $200 to $600 a night as “accessible,” which is still steep for many. Reports indicate that many attendees from poorer countries are struggling with access, and some organizations might send fewer representatives this year compared to past conferences.

Hailey Campbell from Care About Climate, a youth-focused NGO, stated they’ve never faced such housing issues before, even posting their frustrations on social media with the hashtag #DontPriceUsOut. Meanwhile, some participants have decided against attending due to the costs, with others considering extreme options like camping.

Hikaru Hayakawa, who leads Climate Cardinals, noted an increase in those opting out this year—30 to 40 attendees who’ve decided against participation. This could mean missing out on valuable opportunities to form global connections, especially in a vibrant civil society like Brazil’s.

In conclusion, the challenges of accommodation at COP30 could have lasting effects on participation, especially for young activists and representatives from developing nations. The outcome of this summit is crucial as countries prepare to strengthen their climate commitments.

For more context, you can explore this report detailing the logistics and expectations for COP30.

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