Brazil rejects un climate chief’s criticism over cop30 security breach

Brazil has pushed back against accusations from the UN’s top climate official over a security lapse at the COP30 summit in Belem, insisting that responsibility for managing the venue’s internal security lies with the United Nations itself.

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, had criticized Brazilian security forces for “failing to act” when dozens of Indigenous demonstrators entered the summit venue on Tuesday night, according to a letter reported by Bloomberg News. Addressed to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s chief of staff and summit president Andre Correa do Lago, the letter described the incident as a “serious breach” of established security arrangements.

Stiell also pointed to several vulnerabilities, including unsecured doors, uncertainty over whether local authorities would respond to intrusions, and infrastructure concerns such as malfunctioning air conditioning and rainwater from heavy Amazon storms leaking into lighting systems.

In its written reply, seen by AFP, Brazil stressed that security inside the UN-controlled Blue Zone falls under the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS). It said federal and Para state authorities had worked with UNDSS to reassess conditions and agreed to increase staffing, widen buffer areas, and reinforce the perimeter with additional barriers.

“It is a non-issue now. The issues related to that have been secured,” Correa told reporters later.

Brazil also addressed infrastructure complaints, saying there was no significant flooding but rather small leaks caused by broken gutters, all of which had been repaired. Additional air-conditioning units have also been installed.
The decision to host COP30 in Belem — a midsize city near the Amazon rainforest — had already drawn scrutiny due to limited lodging capacity and concerns over its readiness to host a massive global summit. Lula has defended the choice, arguing that bringing the world to the Amazon is vital to highlight both the region’s challenges and its central role in fighting climate change.