Brazilian authorities say they are targeting the housing shortage with climate talks, to prevent oil drilling

Sao Paulo (AP) – Brazilian authorities said Friday they have made progress in solving a housing shortage for attendees of an upcoming climate conference, while defending a recent decision to allow dominant drilling in the Amazon. Both issues have come to a head as Brazil prepares to host the conference, known as Cop30, in November.

Ana Toni, Brazil’s climate change for Cop30, told reporters that more than 163 national relerations have confirmed their confirmation at the conference, and 80% have found accommodation.

Transfer of Nations, activists and other attendees have fought to find affordable housing in Belem, the Amazonian city hosting this year’s climate summit. Hotel prices are outrageous, and even private homes, in favor of motels and other accommodations where they charge a minimum of several hundred dollars a night.

Toni said that the Brazilian government has also secured funding for relief organizations to help cover the cost of repatriation from developed countries. “That issue has already been resolved, and I don’t expect them to have any problems with the number of delegates or houses available in Belem,” he added.

The lack of housing and its potential impact on foreign participation has already caused damage, said Márcio Astrini, Secretary General of Climate, public and academic groups.

“It’s time for us to lose talking about something that’s not even on our radar,” he told related media.

Astrini has attended UN Climate Conferences for 15 years and said the only time he witnessed climate change was at the Glasgow summit in 2021. But that was because the conference took place during the pandemic, when housing restrictions were in place around the world.

Another unhelpful problem, Astini added, is Brazil’s recent approval of an environmental license to explore oil weeks before the climate conference, where efforts to use fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal will be discussed. The burning of that oil releases greenhouse gases, which warm the planet, increase climate extremes and cause other problems.

On Monday, the federal government approved drilling for petrobras oil exploration near the Amazon River basin. This region, believed to be rich in oil and gas, is home to a little-studied minjun and coral reef.

Petrobras has denied that it caused any spills in its operations. The company added that the test well will not produce anyone.

Astrini’s association, along with other rights to Astrini’s rights, Afro-Brazil rights, has infected Petrobras and the Brazilian government who want to issue a license and obtain an order to stop drilling. They argued that the license was technically flawed.

“We believe that they have not properly evaluated the several possible consequences of oil exploration there. The risk posed by this project is greater than what is measured in the license,” he said.

“Even mistakes have their time. Making one 20 days before the police is a double mistake,” said Astrini.

Toni said there is always a topic at the center of the climate debate and this will be no different. “I don’t think it directly affects the credibility or legitimacy of Brazil’s president. The contradictions we face here are the same as the rest of the country will face,” said the police chief.

For him, Brazil is now faced with fossil fuels a challenge similar to deforestation: to face the main source of carbon emissions and find ways to change course.

“The energy debate in Brazil has never been as ripe as it is now. I am very happy that we are having a complex discussion about what kind of energy we want in Brazil,” he said. “I believe that the police officer will help us to take that argument.”

___

Follow ap’s Latin America coverage in America