Lula shuns luxury, says he will stay on a boat during COP30
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Friday (Oct. 3) there will be no shortage of accommodation in Belém to welcome participants at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in 2025, to take place next month in the Amazon city of Belém, capital of Pará state, North Brazil. He said he himself does not want luxury, adding that he will find a boat to sleep on during the event.
The president is in Belém visiting infrastructure works in preparation for COP30. Earlier, he gave an interview to a local TV channel.
“I want to sleep on a boat. I don’t have a boat yet, but I’ll find myself one, and I’ll sleep on it. I don’t want luxury; I want to come and participate in this COP because it has to be the COP of truth. Until now, we have been making many decisions and have not fulfilled them,” said Lula about the international commitments made over the years to combat climate change.
According to the president, in addition to the hotel chain, city residents are leaving their homes and renting them to conference delegations. “The people of Belém are extraordinarily loving and kind. There are many people leaving their homes and renting them to anyone who wants to come,” he noted.
Given the prices of accommodation in Belém, which are considerably higher than those charged in other seasons, several authorities and delegations have expressed concern about a possible lower turnout, especially among representatives of society and poorer countries. As a result, the United Nations has increased the accommodation assistance for these countries from USD 144 to 197 per day.
Around 45 thousand people are expected to attend COP30, and the government has had to expand the 18 thousand hotel beds normally available in the city. To this end, two cruise ships will be used as temporary hotels, which together have approximately 3,900 cabins with a capacity of up to 6 thousand beds.
Belém will also gain three high-end hotels, built by international groups, and partnerships have been formed with online rental platforms to further expand the supply.
Aircraft malfunction
On Thursday morning (2), Lula had engagements on Marajó island, in Pará. When boarding at Belém airport, the Brazilian Air Force aircraft carrying the delegation malfunctioned and had to be replaced.
“I went to catch the plane to Marajó and there was a problem with the engine. The plane [model] belonged to the Brazilian Air Force. And I just thanked God the problem happened while I was on the ground and not in the air,” President Lula said in the interview.
