As COP30 approaches in Belém, Brazil, excitement in the global climate community is quickly being overshadowed by frustration, disappointment and financial barriers.
For many journalists, activists and civil society representatives from the Global South, especially South Asia, skyrocketing airfares and a severe accommodation shortage are turning this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference into an impossible dream.
Nepal has significantly downsized its delegation to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, citing soaring airfares, costly accommodation and the long travel distance.
Maheswor Dhakal, Joint Secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment, told The Climate Watch that the country has had to “trim our team due to expensive fares, accommodation and the very long journey from Nepal.”
He noted that at COP29 in Baku, around 100 participants from Nepal, including 50 government officials and 50 representatives from NGOs and INGOs, attended the global climate summit. “This year, only 11 delegates are joining from the government, and the total number from Nepal, including NGOs and INGOs, will not exceed 25 to 30,” Dhakal said.
Shawkat Ali Mirza, one of the Bangladesh delegates and the Director, Climate Change and International Convention at Department Environment Bangladesh said that due to cost and travel hassle Bangladesh also downsize the numbers of delegations this year.
A cost too high for many
For a senior climate journalist Mohammad Daud Khan from Pakistan, who has attended several COPs in the past decade, this year marks a painful first: he may have to stay home.
“I received UNFCCC accreditation, but flights from Peshawar or Karachi to Belém are now above USD 3,000. On top of that, accommodation costs at least another USD 1,000,” he said.
“Even after booking hotels, some canceled my reservation and asked for more money. I simply cannot afford it.”
He explained that many NGOs, observers, and even government delegates have been forced to scale back or cancel plans altogether.
“The high airfare and hotel prices have cut participation from Pakistan drastically. People who have been attending COPs for years are now watching helplessly.”
Journalists left stranded
For journalists across South Asia, the situation is no better. “I have been covering climate change have reported from several UN climate summits,” said Murad Khan, another journalist from Pakistan.
“But this year, without sponsorship, it’s not possible. Airfare alone exceeds USD 3,000, and my organization cannot afford to send me. I deeply regret missing this global event.”
From neighboring Nepal, accredited journalist Mukesh Pukhrel voiced similar frustration: “I was excited to cover COP30, but the cost is unbearable. Flights are over USD 3,000 and accommodation in Belém is beyond our means. Many South Asian journalists are facing the same challenge.”
Keramot Ullah Biplob, Secretary General of the South Asian Climate Change Journalists’ Forum (SACCJF), confirmed the widespread impact.
“Usually, around 100 journalists from our network attend the COP. This year, it will be no more than 20–25. Most simply cannot afford it. The Global South’s media presence at COP30 will be the weakest in years.”
Similarly, Habibur Rahman, President of the Global Climate Media Network, said that even those who managed to book tickets are facing another crisis, finding a place to stay.
“Hotels in Belém are fully booked or charging exorbitant prices. Some NGOs have tried to share small guesthouses, but even that is proving impossible. The yellow fever vaccination requirement adds yet another cost, around USD 80.”
He added that many media organizations in the Global South simply do not have the funding to cover these expenses. “For many of us, the COP is where we bring our local stories to the global stage. But this year, our voices will be missing.”
With fewer journalists and grassroots delegates expected to attend, the concern grows that critical stories from vulnerable nations will go untold.
“This will affect coverage,” said Habibur Rahman. “Without in-person reporting, media from the Global South will have to rely on online updates, which are no substitute for field reporting. This means stories of real people, the farmers, the displaced, the frontline communities, will lose visibility.”
NGOs facing the same battle
The story is repeated in Bangladesh, where an NGO worker who received accreditation only last week found all affordable tickets gone. “There are no flights under USD 3,500 now,” he said.
“Most routes from Dhaka involve two to four stopovers and often require transit visas,” said the official, requesting anonymity. “For many of us, that makes the journey nearly impossible.”
He added, “Even if you manage the flight, the accommodation problem remains. Hotels are full, or they cancel after booking, demanding higher prices. It feels like the Global South has been priced out of the climate negotiations.”
Even institutions that have attended the COP regularly are being forced to downsize. A prominent Dhaka-based think tank initially planned to send a six-member delegation but has now cut it down to four and even those members are struggling to secure tickets.
“As of October 30, we still have not been able to finalize air travel,” said Mohammad Asif. “The prices are beyond our budget. We may end up sending only two delegates at most.”
Monzurul Hanan Khan, CEO of NACOM, a UNFCCC-accredited NGO from Bangladesh, also described serious constraints: “We have a side event at COP30, but our team is very small this year. I was able to secure a ticket only because I have a Canadian visa and could route my flight through there. Others in my team are struggling. The airfare from Bangladesh is beyond imagination.”
A logistical maze
Travel to Belém, the capital of Brazil’s Pará state and gateway to the Amazon, is complicated even under normal circumstances. The city lacks direct international flights, meaning delegates must fly through São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro and then take a domestic flight north.
However, with over 50,000 participants expected this year, those connecting flights are either fully booked or have seen their prices surge dramatically. Some travelers report paying over USD 600–800 just for the domestic leg between São Paulo and Belém.
Even within Brazil, hotels are overwhelmed. Reports suggest that accommodation prices have doubled or tripled since early October. Some residents are listing rooms on temporary rental platforms for thousands of dollars and official COP accommodation portals are largely sold out.
Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, told The Climate Watch: “COP30 faces serious logistical challenges. The host team in Brazil has not yet sorted out how to handle an event of this scale. We are talking about over 50,000 people in a city with limited infrastructure. We hope to see stronger leadership from Brazil and regional coordination to address these problems.”
“What inclusion happen; we do not know as still many delegations could not ensure their accommodation.”
Belém, though rich in Amazonian culture and biodiversity, is not accustomed to hosting large-scale international conferences. Critics say the local authorities and the UNFCCC Secretariat should have anticipated the demand and worked earlier to stabilize travel and accommodation costs urges climate activists.
Global South: The most affected
Observers say these logistical and financial barriers disproportionately affect delegates from developing and climate vulnerable nations, the very voices COP30 most needs to hear. “The irony is painful,” said Sabah Khan, a South Asian NGO worker. “The countries most affected by climate change are being priced out of the very conference that’s supposed to secure their future.”
For many activists and journalists, attending the COP is not just about presence it is about representation. Global South reporters tell the stories of adaptation, loss and damage and resilience on the ground. Without them, coverage risks being dominated by Western narratives.
“This is more than a travel issue,” said Keramot Ullah Biplob. “It’s about equitable access. When the Global South cannot be present in person, it weakens the entire process.”
An urgent call for support
As the countdown to COP30 continues, delegates are urging both the Brazilian government and the UNFCCC Secretariat to take immediate measures. Suggestions include expanding accommodation options, arranging charter flights or discounted routes and providing emergency support for accredited participants who cannot afford travel.
Some regional networks are also calling on donor agencies to step in. “We need solidarity,” said Biplob. “If Global South voices are missing in Belém, the discussions will be incomplete. Climate justice begins with participation.”
