YouthNet Global, a grassroots-led youth organization, has condemned the construction of a four-lane highway through 8 miles of protected Amazon rainforest, calling it a glaring contradiction to the mission of the UN Climate Summit COP30. The highway, designed to accommodate world leaders and over 50,000 attendees in Belém, Brazil, has sparked widespread criticism from environmentalists, local communities, and climate activists worldwide.
The Brazilian government defends the project as a “sustainable highway,” incorporating wildlife crossings and solar lighting. However, environmentalists argue that these measures do little to offset the environmental destruction caused by clearing vast areas of the rainforest.
In the lead-up to hosting COP30, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has also pushed for increased oil exploration in the Amazon, sparking further controversy. The government is seeking expedited approval for oil drilling projects near the mouth of the Amazon, arguing that the revenues generated could fund Brazil’s transition to renewable energy.
Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, expressed his outrage, stating, “It is a cruel irony that a highway destroying the Amazon rainforest is being built for a climate summit meant to protect it. This is not a COP for the Amazon; it’s a COP in the Amazon.” Reports have revealed that the construction has caused massive deforestation, disrupting wildlife habitats and displacing local communities that are dependent on the forest for their livelihoods.
YouthNet Global has called on COP30 organizers and world leaders to take immediate action to halt further environmental damage. Rahman emphasized, “If world leaders are serious about climate action, they must stop projects that sacrifice nature in the name of convenience. True climate leadership means listening to local communities and protecting ecosystems, not paving over them.”
The controversy over the highway construction raises questions about whether COP30 will bring meaningful climate action or be reduced to a high-profile event undermined by its own environmental footprint. As scrutiny grows, climate advocates are demanding that the summit leave a legacy of conservation, not destruction.
YouthNet Global urges world leaders to reconsider infrastructure projects that prioritize short-term gains over long-term ecological survival. Rahman concluded, “The world is watching, and the pressure is on Brazil to ensure that COP30 does not become a symbol of hypocrisy in the fight against climate change. If COP30 is to be a turning point, it must not be built on the ashes of the rainforest.”
YouthNet Global has raised concerns that this oil push contradicts Brazil’s role as a host for climate talks and poses serious risks to the Amazon’s unique biodiversity and the livelihoods of indigenous communities. Brazil’s recent decision to join OPEC+ has only fueled these concerns, with critics arguing that it undermines the country’s credibility as a climate leader.
Protests have erupted in Belém, the host city for COP30, where environmental activists have expressed strong opposition to the government’s oil exploration plans. They argue that prioritizing oil extraction will harm Brazil’s reputation and credibility in pushing for global climate action.
Rahman concluded, “A true just transition to renewable energy is necessary for a 1.5°C future. If COP30 is to succeed, it must prioritize conservation and climate justice, not further exploitation of the Amazon and its people.”
