COP30: Belem is where Roger Casement was British Consul and departed on his famous Putumayo probe

Published on : 09 Nov 2025, 4:42 pm

The world has gathered at the city of Belem in the Brazilian state of Para for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The meeting will be held from November 10-November 21.

This year’s COP comes at a time when the planet has passed a critical climate tipping point, with warm-water coral reefs facing long-term decline, endangering millions of livelihoods.

But even more poignant is the venue of the event. Belem is the entry point to the Amazon biome. It is something Brazilian President Luz Inacio Lula da Silva himself emphasised when he told world leaders gathered at Belem that the city’s symbolism ran deep as the Amazon is both the planet’s greatest climate stabiliser and it