AROUND 100,000 trees have been slashed down in the heart of the Amazon rainforest to clear a road to the COP30 climate summit.
Donald Trump has slammed organisers for gouging out an eight-mile multi-lane highway through the ancient forests to transport world leaders and climate activists to the event, which began yesterday.
The US President fumed on Truth Social: “They ripped the hell out of the Rainforest of Brazil to build a four-lane highway for Environmentalists to travel. It’s become a big scandal!”
COP happens each year and is the largest get-together dedicated to countering climate change.
This year, COP30 is running from November 10 to November 21 in the Brazilian city of Belem.
Representatives from over 190 countries have been invited – but the event was mired in controversy before it even started.
SINKING HELL
Cruise horror as 55 passengers left floating in sea after 40ft catamaran sinks
HUGE BLAST
Moment huge blast erupts at one of Vlad’s major oil ports after Ukraine strike
The decision to host the event in Belem has raised eyebrows, because the city is desperately poor and racked by inequality.
Most of its 2.5 million residents live in punishing slum conditions.
Many have argued it is inappropriate to impose a glitzy meeting of world leaders on these people.
There is also a major lack of accommodation for the roughly 50,000 people expected to attend.
In order to get the area into a fit state to host, the Brazilian government poured in $1billion of investment.
Bizarre “love” motels aimed at couples have sprung up, and school classrooms will also be commandeered to host visitors.
Trump’s administration has not sent a formal delegation to COP this year, though several left-wing American officials will be in attendance – including California Governor Gavin Newsom.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the president would “not jeopardize our country’s economic and national security to pursue vague climate goals that are killing other countries“.
Some of the cash investment also went into ripping up the thousands of Amazonian trees – which the climate delegates will insist are crucial to countering climate change.
Voices from all sides of the climate debate have criticized the move.
Canadian climate activist Mike Hudema wrote on X: “You can’t be a climate leader if you’re cutting down one of the world’s greatest climate solutions to do it.”
Many of those at COP30 will have advocated studies which say the Amazon is at tipping pointand cannot afford to lose any more trees.
The construction of the highway was first suggested by the Pará state government over a decade ago, but the plans were shelved due to the backlash over environmental concerns.
However, the scheme was then revived – along with dozens of other infrastructure plans – ahead of this month’s summit.
The local airport has also been expanded, and the city’s port redeveloped for cruise ships.
Brazilian politicians have tried to sell the new highway as “sustainable”, on the basis of 30 wildlife crossings built in, protective fencing for vegetation and the inclusion of bike lanes.
moving fast
MAFS couple PREGNANT days after they get married as strangers on show
WEDDING RIFT
Adam Peaty’s family feud escalates as he BANS mum from wedding to Holly Ramsay
Trump claimed in his September speech to the United Nations that climate change was the “greatest con job ever perpetuated” on the world, created by “stupid people”.
He said: “If you don’t get away from this green scam, your country is going to fail.”