The Brazilian state of Pará, which will host the COP30 climate summit in November 2025, has denied that the construction of the 13.3-kilometer (8.3-mile) Avenida Liberdade highway is linked to the event. State officials claim that the project was planned before Belém was chosen as the summit’s venue and is meant to improve urban mobility for the city’s 2.2 million residents by easing congestion on BR-316. The highway is being built with environmental mitigation measures, including 30 wildlife crossings, noise-reducing barriers, and fencing to limit roadside development. Officials also emphasize that the highway is following an existing power line corridor to minimize deforestation.
Despite these claims, environmentalists warn that the project will fragment the Belém Environmental Protection Area (APAB), which is home to over 800 plant and fungi species, as well as diverse wildlife. The road’s construction could alter the area’s microclimate and disrupt ecosystems. Additionally, residents of the nearby Abacatal quilombo, an Afro-Brazilian community, fear that increased accessibility will lead to real estate speculation, threatening their way of life. While the government has pledged to replant three trees for every one removed, concerns remain about the lack of clear timelines and locations for this reforestation effort. Critics argue that building a major highway in a protected area contradicts the environmental commitments of COP30, highlighting the ongoing struggle between infrastructure development and conservation in the Amazon. More