Yesterday afternoon, a fire broke out at the COP30 venue in Belem, Brazil, briefly shaking up the already intense climate talks. Within about 30 minutes, local teams brought the blaze under control, though 13 people were treated for smoke inhalation.
Despite the scare, the Chinese pavilion was not affected, the Chinese delegation confirmed. They pointed out that the fire did not originate in their area, and all exhibits and staff remained safe.
Brazilian Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino said the quick response by firefighters and venue staff contained the flames before they caused major damage. Para state governor Helder Barbalho explained that investigators are now examining whether a generator failure or a short circuit in a temporary structure triggered the incident.
The fire came as negotiators missed a self-imposed Wednesday deadline to agree on key issues like boosting climate finance and phasing out fossil fuels. With the summit originally set to wrap up on Friday, talks are entering their final stretch, and delegates are working around the clock to secure commitments from nearly 200 countries.
As discussions resume today, organizers and participants are hoping to keep the momentum going despite the unexpected interruption. Stay tuned as COP30 continues to shape the global roadmap for climate action! 🌍🔥
Reference(s):
Fire disrupts COP30 climate talks, Chinese pavilion not affected
cgtn.com
