Talks at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil were temporarily halted on Thursday after a fire broke out inside the venue, forcing thousands of delegates to evacuate the building. The incident happened at one of the country pavilions, just as negotiators were trying to push forward on a deal aimed at strengthening global action on climate change. Officials later confirmed that the fire was quickly brought under control and that no injuries were reported.
The evacuation disrupted a critical stage of the summit. Delegates, including teams representing small island nations, waited outside the venue for updates on when they could return and resume the discussions. Brazil’s tourism minister, Celso Sabino, said it was still unclear when the building would be reopened.
The climate conference, held in the Amazon city of Belem, has already missed its Wednesday deadline to reach an agreement on major issues. Key topics still under negotiation include climate finance and the long-debated transition away from fossil fuels. These discussions involve nearly 200 countries and remain deeply divided.
Earlier in the day, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged world leaders to find common ground, emphasizing that the world is watching and expecting progress. He welcomed growing calls for a clearer roadmap to move away from fossil fuels, an issue that continues to divide oil-producing nations and countries vulnerable to climate change.
Disagreements on climate finance also remain a major obstacle. Several developing nations say rich countries are hesitant to commit to firm financial support that would help vulnerable regions prepare for rising sea levels, stronger storms, and shifting weather patterns. Many poorer countries have also expressed mistrust after previous climate funding promises, including a $300 billion pledge made at COP29, failed to materialize effectively.
Pacific island representatives warned that failure to reach a strong agreement on adaptation would be devastating. They stressed that communities are already facing life-threatening impacts linked to warming seas and extreme weather.
European officials say they support increasing adaptation funding but claim they do not yet have the authority to agree to new binding targets.
With less than 48 hours left before the official end of COP30, pressure is rising on negotiators to deliver a meaningful deal. Brazil, as the host nation, has called this moment a crucial opportunity to turn years of climate pledges into real, measurable action.
