Belém, Brazil’s historic Amazon gateway city, is gearing up to host COP30 from November 10-21, 2025, welcoming over 50,000 visitors for what’s being called the “forest COP.” After climate summits in oil-rich Dubai and Baku left environmentalists frustrated, there’s renewed hope that hosting the conference in the heart of the Amazon region will refocus global attention on forest preservation and its critical role in limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

The contrast between old and new Belém tells a complex story. From the 17th-century Presépio Fort, visitors can see the city’s striking blue Ver-o-Peso fish market, bustling stands selling açaí and exotic Amazon fruits, and elegant Belle Epoque mansions. But the view also reveals modern residential towers and sprawling urban slums—a reminder of the social challenges facing this rapidly growing city of 1.5 million people.

Perhaps most concerning is Belém’s troubled relationship with water. Despite being built along major rivers in the Amazon delta, the city has turned away from its waterways over time, leaving 40% of its urban area dangerously vulnerable to flooding. This irony isn’t lost on experts who question whether COP30 attendees will truly grasp the environmental and social complexities facing the Amazon region.

As Belém prepares for the global spotlight, the city faces a unique opportunity to showcase both the Amazon’s vital importance for climate stability and the real-world challenges of balancing development with environmental protection in one of the world’s most critical ecosystems.