In a striking departure from the luxury venues that have long defined international climate summits, Brazil is preparing to host the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The city of Belem, a historic river port in northern Brazil with high poverty rates and visible environmental challenges, is set to welcome an estimated 90,000 delegates, world leaders, scientists, and activists in November.

By selecting Belem as the venue, Brazil’s government is deliberately placing the global spotlight on the intertwined crises of Amazon deforestation and social inequality. The decision underscores a growing recognition that climate diplomacy must be grounded in the realities of the most affected regions—where the consequences of inaction are most severe and immediate.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration has framed the location as a statement of intent: to center the voices of the Global South and bring attention to the complex dynamics of climate justice. “Belem represents both the beauty and the fragility of the Amazon,” a Brazilian government official said. “It’s where the climate crisis is lived every day, not just discussed.”

Located at the gateway to the Amazon, Belem has long grappled with underinvestment, poor infrastructure, and the pressures of urban expansion. It is also a region on the front lines of environmental degradation. The Amazon rainforest, once a vast carbon sink, is nearing a tipping point in parts where deforestation has made it a net carbon emitter. This shift has global implications, as the Amazon plays a crucial role in regulating climate and weather systems across the planet.

Hosting the climate summit in such a location brings a sharp contrast to previous COPs held in high-end resorts and global capitals. In Belem, negotiators will be surrounded by reminders of the urgent need for environmental protection and economic inclusion. The juxtaposition is intentional. Rather than hiding the climate crisis behind polished venues, COP30 will confront delegates with its human and ecological costs.

However, the logistical challenges of hosting such a massive event in a city with limited infrastructure are already mounting. With only a small number of high-capacity hotels available, accommodation shortages have driven up prices dramatically. Organizers have announced plans to dock cruise ships along the Amazon River to serve as temporary lodging and are prioritizing bookings for delegations from poorer nations to ensure equitable participation.

U.N. officials have also stressed the high stakes of this year’s summit. Countries are expected to submit updated climate action plans as part of their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Yet, according to a recent U.N. report, most national plans still fall short of the emissions reductions needed to keep global warming below the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The meeting in Belem is expected to bring renewed pressure on wealthier nations, which are responsible for the bulk of historical emissions, to increase their financial and technological support for developing countries. These regions, like much of the Amazon, are already experiencing the worst effects of climate change—floods, droughts, biodiversity loss—while lacking sufficient resources to adapt.

At the same time, Brazil hopes to use COP30 to promote its vision of sustainable development for the Amazon. This includes proposals for forest conservation, bioeconomy investments, and recognition of Indigenous land rights, which scientists say are crucial for protecting remaining forest cover.

As world leaders prepare to descend on Belem, the summit is shaping up to be more than just a diplomatic gathering. It is poised to be a symbolic and practical reckoning with the environmental and social injustices at the heart of the climate crisis—offering a rare moment where those most affected by climate change take center stage in shaping the global response.