Irony in the Amazon: Climate elites bulldoze rainforest for “green” conference
03/14/2025 / By Willow Tohi
Tens of thousands of acres of the Amazon rainforest are being cleared to build a four-lane highway, Avenida Liberdade, connecting Belém, Brazil, to the COP30 Climate Summit venue. The project, previously shelved due to environmental concerns, has been revived to accommodate 50,000 attendees.
The highway cuts through 13 kilometers of protected rainforest, destroying critical ecosystems and displacing local communities. Residents like Claudio Verequete, who relied on harvesting açaí berries, have lost their livelihoods due to the deforestation.
The project highlights the double standards of global elites, who advocate for climate action while traveling via private jets and SUVs on roads built at the expense of the Amazon, one of the world’s most vital carbon sinks.
Previous climate summits, such as COP26 and COP28, have been criticized for excessive carbon footprints due to private jet use. Critics argue that such events could be held virtually to reduce environmental harm, but the destruction of the Amazon for COP30 represents a new level of hypocrisy.
The Amazon highway symbolizes the climate movement’s elitism and moral contradictions. Critics demand greater transparency and accountability, urging climate leaders to lead by example rather than prioritizing convenience over conservation.
https://www.climate.news/2025-03-14-climate-elites-bulldoze-rainforest-for-green-conference.html
