Satellite images indicate a new highway, Avenida Liberdade, is under construction in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest near Belém, home to the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference. The highway aims to improve connectivity but raises environmental concerns about deforestation and criminal activity. It incorporates measures like wildlife crossings, aiming to accommodate heightened traffic during COP30.
Satellite images from Copernicus, captured in October 2023 and 2024, appear to indicate the construction of a new highway, named Avenida Liberdade, cutting through Brazil’s Amazon rainforest near Belém, the capital of Pará state. This region is set to host the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30). The images show a cleared path flanked by dense foliage, highlighting concerns over deforestation.
The Avenida Liberdade highway is projected to measure approximately 8.2 miles in length with dual lanes operating in both directions. It is intended to connect pre-existing road networks, thus providing a new access route to the Belém Metropolitan Region. By November 2024, construction was reported to be 20% complete according to updates from the Brazilian government.
Drone footage released by the BBC further illustrates the deforestation occurring along an 8-mile stretch of the planned highway. In line with its infrastructure goals, Brazil is strategically developing highways to enhance connectivity to remote rural areas, such as a 560-mile road connecting the Amazonas and Roraima states with the rest of the nation.
While paving these roads presents social benefits by improving access to essential services like healthcare and education, experts warn that it may result in an extensive pattern of deforestation surrounding the roadways. Rachael Garrett from the University of Cambridge emphasized that highway construction could exacerbate environmental damage in the rainforest.
There are also significant risks of increased environmental crimes, such as illegal logging and mining, which could escalate without effective regional governance. Nauê Azevedo of the Climate Observatory highlighted that convenience for criminals would lead to greater access to remote ecologically sensitive areas.
The Amazon rainforest plays a crucial role in combating climate change, with the capacity to store approximately 200 billion tons of carbon. Moreover, it significantly contributes to global water cycles by releasing 20 billion tons of water into the atmosphere daily, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
In response to environmental concerns, the Avenida Liberdade highway will integrate specific preservation measures, including 24 wildlife crossings, designated cycle lanes, and solar-powered lighting. The primary objective of constructing this highway is to accommodate the traffic associated with COP30, which is expected to attract around 50,000 delegates to Belém, located near the interconnected Amazon and Atlantic waters. The conference is scheduled for November 10 to November 21, 2025.
The construction of the Avenida Liberdade highway in the Amazon rainforest raises significant environmental concerns amid its intended societal benefits. While promoting connectivity is essential for local communities, the potential for increased deforestation and environmental crime poses risks to the delicate ecosystem. The Amazon’s vital role in climate regulation underscores the necessity for careful consideration of infrastructure projects, especially with the urgency surrounding global climate initiatives, such as COP30.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
