Fires add to tensions at COP30 climate talks

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a deal at a conference in the Amazonian city of Belem earlier in the day, welcoming calls for clarity on the hotly contested issue of a worldwide “detox” from fossil fuels.

The conference is expected to conclude today (November 21) with the goal of reaching a final agreement among the nearly 200 participating countries. And host country Brazil has seen the agreement as an important step towards strengthening international climate action and realizing decades of promises made at previous COP conferences.

However, shortly after lunchtime, security footage showed flames breaking out at an exhibition booth and spreading rapidly up the building's interior fabric walls and ceiling before being extinguished.

❗️⚠️🇧🇷 - BREAKING: Fire Breaks Out in Pavilion at COP30 Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil

A fire was reported on Thursday, November 20, in one of the pavilions hosting the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Pará, Brazil. Security personnel ordered the immediate… pic.twitter.com/qZB7zvtzwz
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) November 20, 2025

Video of the fire

Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation at the venue, organizers said. Thousands of delegates were evacuated due to the incident. The local fire department said the cause may have been electrical equipment, possibly a microwave, and the fire was brought under control within six minutes.

COP30 already missed a deadline on Wednesday to secure agreement among countries present on issues including how to increase climate finance and transition away from fossil fuels.

On Thursday, Brazil circulated a draft proposal for part of the COP30 agreement to several countries that does not include a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels. Emissions from burning fossil fuels are known to be the biggest contributor to global warming.

The draft says countries will call for a tripling of existing finance to help countries adapt to climate change by 2030. However, the draft does not make clear whether this money will come directly from rich countries, or from other sources, including development banks or the private sector.

At previous COP conferences, the host and chair country typically discussed a text with small groups of countries, before bringing all countries together to adopt a final agreement on the closing day.

Source: https://congluan.vn/hoa-hoan-lam-cang-thang-them-cac-cuoc-dam-phan-khi-hau-tai-cop30-10318674.html