In Belém, northern Brazil, preparations for Cop30 are reshaping the city at a rapid pace. As 50,000 delegates are expected to arrive for the 2025 climate summit, local families are being forced from their homes to make way for short-term rental conversions, fuelling tensions between profit and community stability.
Rising rents and displacement
The global climate conference has triggered a sharp spike in rental prices across Belém. Landlords, eager to cash in on the influx of international delegates and media, are ending long-term leases to repurpose properties for short-term lets. Many residents, particularly low-income families, are struggling to find affordable housing alternatives, leading to evictions in neighbourhoods close to key event sites.
Human rights groups have described the situation as “a heavy burden” on those least able to bear it. Critics argue that the housing rush reveals a lack of safeguards for vulnerable communities, who are being displaced for profit at a time when the city is showcasing its role in the fight against climate change.
Social impact of the climate summit
While the Cop30 summit is expected to spotlight Belém and the Amazon region on the global stage, the costs for residents are mounting. Local NGOs report that entire blocks of rental properties have been emptied in anticipation of higher returns from international visitors. Schools and social services are also feeling the pressure, as families are forced to relocate with little notice.
Some city officials acknowledge the problem but argue that the international exposure will bring long-term benefits, including investment in infrastructure and tourism. For many displaced residents, however, the immediate challenge is finding somewhere to live in a market that has become unaffordable overnight.
Calls for protection and regulation
Community groups and housing advocates are demanding urgent action from authorities. Proposals include rent control measures, temporary housing assistance, and restrictions on mass evictions in the lead-up to Cop30. Without intervention, campaigners warn that the summit risks deepening inequality in Belém, with vulnerable citizens bearing the brunt of preparations for a global event centred on sustainability and justice.
Balancing global ambition with local reality
The eviction crisis highlights a contradiction at the heart of Cop30: a conference dedicated to climate justice is coinciding with social injustices on the ground. As Belém prepares to welcome world leaders and climate activists, the city’s own residents are questioning who truly benefits from hosting the summit.
For international delegates, the gathering will be an opportunity to negotiate solutions to the climate crisis. For many locals, however, it has already brought disruption and uncertainty — a stark reminder that global ambitions often come at a local cost.
Newshub Editorial in South America – 23 September 2025
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