Brazil’s Amazon Highway Construction Sparks Outrage Ahead of Climate Summit

Brazil is building a highway through the Amazon rainforest, leading to widespread deforestation and local protests ahead of the COP30 climate summit. Critics emphasize the contradiction between the project and the summit’s climate objectives, as the highway disrupts wildlife and harms local residents. Scientists warn about the fragmentation of the ecosystem and the impact on biodiversity.

The Amazon rainforest is crucial for mitigating climate change. Recent developments have seen a new four-lane highway being constructed through the rainforest near Belem, Brazil, igniting significant backlash from local communities and environmentalists ahead of the upcoming COP30 climate summit in November. This road, which aims to ease traffic congestion during the event expected to draw over 50,000 attendees, is paradoxically being branded as a “sustainable” project by state officials.

Critics argue that this construction undermines the core objectives of the climate conference, as the Amazon plays an essential role in absorbing carbon dioxide and supporting biodiversity. The clearing for the highway spans more than 8 miles, disturbing protected areas, filling wetlands, and resulting in the destruction of countless trees previously thriving in the region.

Local resident Claudio Verrequete has faced severe repercussions, having lost his açaí berry harvesting livelihood due to the removal of trees. He expresses concern over inadequate compensation and fears that increased deforestation will follow with easy access to the area. Notably, the highway’s design means residents like Verrequete will be excluded from using it, despite bearing its detrimental effects.

Environmental experts are apprehensive that the road will fragment the ecosystem and hinder wildlife mobility. Professor Silvia Sardinha, a wildlife doctor, highlights alarming consequences, noting that numerous injured animals are seen at her university’s animal hospital due to human activity like vehicle collisions. This situation raises questions regarding Brazil’s credibility as a host nation for a climate summit while simultaneously engaging in activities that exacerbate deforestation.

The construction of a new highway through the Amazon rainforest poses severe ecological threats and raises doubts about Brazil’s commitment to addressing climate change. With significant deforestation occurring for this project, local communities face economic displacement, and wildlife mobility is jeopardized, counteracting the intentions of the COP30 climate summit aimed at fostering sustainability.

Original Source: www.news18.com