Belém (Brazil): A fire in one of the pavilions of the COP30 global climate summit in the Brazilian city of Belém today (November 20, BRT) has stalled last-stage deliberations, with the Brazil administration saying that pronouncing the venue fully safe will take at least till 8 pm.

The COP at the city in the mouth of the Amazonian rainforests has seen more than 56,000 diplomats, journalists, activists and staff gather at one giant park, within air-conditioned tents.

In a joint statement, the COP30 Presidency and UN Climate Change said that 13 individuals were treated on site for smoke inhalation. "Their condition is being monitored, and appropriate medical support has been provided," it noted.

The fire department and UN security officers responded swiftly, the statement said, and added that the fire was controlled in approximately six minutes. Large numbers of people were evacuated from the vast halls. Even though they were allowed to go in to collect their belongings, authorities have now emptied the area known as the 'Blue Zone' – where negotiations happen – for the thorough check.

Videos circulating of the fire show tall flames at one of the many pavilions set up by governments and organisations at the venue, indicating a degree of damage to the tent's roof and walls. Close to the site where the fire broke out is the Indian government's pavilion, where environment minister Bhupender Yadav has been meeting counterparts from various countries and journalists in the second week of COP30.

The COP30 presidency had plans of holding the closing plenary of the governing bodies in the afternoon to adopt draft decisions that are ready. Items need to be completed by Friday (tomorrow), the last day of the COP30. Speculation is on as to whether the discussions can realistically end on Friday, given the delay caused by the fire.

Belém had been an audacious choice as host city of COP30 – it is smaller than the bustling metropolises of Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro and there have been umpteen reports by Western news media on its alleged unpreparedness to host an event of this scale. Daily rains have added to the challenge of the hosts, causing occasional leaks in the tents. At other times, the oppressive heat renders the air conditioning less than effective, in an inescapable metaphor for the climate crisis.

'Waiting for you'

Three hours before the fire, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres addressed a press conference at the same venue, where he urged countries to “follow the science and put people before profit," amid reports of deadlocks on fossil fuels, climate finance and other key issues.

“Ministers and negotiators must show leadership, boldness and good faith,” he said, stressing that 1.5°C (the limit to which it was decided globally that the earth's warming will be contained) remains “the only non-negotiable red line."

Guterres was also asked by the BBC climate journalist Justin Rowlatt as to what message he wants this COP to send to Donald Trump – the US president who withdrew from the landmark Paris Agreement soon after he assumed office for the second time and is thus leading his government to remain out of the climate talks.

"We are waiting for you!" said Guterres. As Rowlatt pressed, he added, "Hope is the last thing that dies."

This article went live on November twenty-first, two thousand twenty five, at two minutes past three at night.

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