Brazil's $1.2bn Climate Host: Lessons from Belem for India's COP33 Bid
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As India prepares to host the UN Climate Change Conference in 2028, Brazil's experience staging COP30 in the Amazon offers valuable insights. The South American nation invested over $1.2 billion in federal funds to prepare the city of Belem, which successfully hosted thousands of delegates and high-profile visitors. Brazil's Minister for Cities, Jader Barbalho Filho, attributes the success to a collaborative effort and unwavering determination. The preparations took years and involved massive infrastructure overhauls, including the retrofitting of the airport, construction of a new port, and development of parks and mobility infrastructure. To manage traffic, the city advanced school holidays by a month. Despite these efforts, Belem faced issues such as overcharging for accommodation and infrastructure problems. Filho advises India to start early and maintain a strong commitment to hosting the conference. He emphasizes that the key to success lies in collaboration and a collective belief in the mission. The World Economic Forum has praised India's decision to host COP33, citing its potential to highlight the coexistence of development and decarbonization. The Indian Union environment ministry has already established a dedicated COP33 cell to address the specialized requirements associated with hosting the conference. As India embarks on this massive logistical feat, it can draw from Brazil's experience, which serves as a testament to the importance of perseverance and collaboration in achieving a common goal.
