Senators inspect COP30 works in Belém and highlight legacy

By Fabyo Cruz – From Cenarium

MANAUS (AM) – Less than six months before the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), scheduled for November this year, senators from the Federal Senate’s Environment Commission were in Belém this Thursday, the 5th, to inspect the ongoing works and follow the preparations for the planet’s biggest climate event. The visit was led by Senators Fabiano Contarato (PT-ES), president of the commission, and Beto Faro (PT-PA), rapporteur of the Senate’s temporary COP30 subcommittee.

The parliamentarians were welcomed by the governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho (MDB), at Porto Futuro II, one of the main infrastructure hubs of the event. They took part in a symbolic tree planting in Parque da Cidade, the site that will host the Blue and Green zones of the conference, designated for official delegations and representatives of civil society, respectively.

Before the technical visit, the parliamentarians attended the National Meeting of Environment Committee Presidents of State Legislatures, promoted by the Legislative Assembly of Pará (Alepa), reinforcing the role of the Legislature in the environmental agenda at the national level.

Speaking to CENARIUM, Senator Fabiano Contarato evaluated the progress of the works positively and highlighted the importance of COP30 for giving visibility to local realities. “I believe the world will have the opportunity to see the reality of the State of Pará, of traditional communities, Indigenous peoples, and Quilombola populations. The COP cannot be just a showcase; it needs to generate dignity for those who live here,” he said.

Contarato also emphasized the recent approval of the law regulating the carbon credit market in Brazil as an important milestone in the pursuit of climate justice. “We must be rewarded for preserving. This COP will be a great opportunity to show that Brazil is committed to the environment, but also to social development,” he added.

Impact of the works

Senator Beto Faro (PT) from Pará highlighted the impact of the ongoing works on the local economy and the legacy that COP30 will leave for Belém. “It’s important to show that Belém is preparing, that it is ready to host the conference. Previously abandoned spaces are now being recovered, generating jobs and income. There are already more than 5,000 workers involved in the construction,” he stated.

For Faro, in addition to international visibility, COP30 will bring concrete benefits to the city. “We are talking about policies that will help reverse the climate crisis, with reduced deforestation and a balance between development and the environment. Anyone coming to Pará will see that we organized the best COP of all time,” he declared.

Senators’ agenda

Despite the technical visit, not all members of the COP30 subcommittee attended the site. Senator Leila Barros (PDT-DF), president of the subcommittee, vice-president Augusta Brito (PT-CE), and Senator Wellington Fagundes (PL-MT) justified their absences from Thursday’s agenda.

The official program for the senators continues this Friday, the 6th, with a tour of the COP30 spaces – including the Hangar Convention Center, the COP Village, and other strategic areas of the event – in addition to a meeting with Belém’s mayor, Igor Normando (MDB), scheduled for early afternoon. Senator Contarato will remain in the state capital until June 8.

Edited by Jadson Lima
Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves