With less than a year to go until COP30, Belém, Brazil, is preparing to host one of the world’s most important climate events. As the city gears up to welcome thousands of global delegates and environmental leaders, the focus is not only on the conference itself but also on the opportunities and challenges it brings for sustainable development. Local businesses, including the hospitality sector, are stepping up their efforts to support eco-friendly practices, reduce carbon footprints, and foster lasting positive change for both the environment and local communities.

Bringing COP30 to Belém offers a unique opportunity to focus international attention on the Amazon. Often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth,” the Amazon rainforest absorbs substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, making it crucial in mitigating global warming. Hosting COP30 there places a spotlight on protecting this invaluable ecosystem and addressing the rising rates of deforestation, which have intensified due to agricultural expansion, mining, and other economic activities.

By selecting Belém as the host city, COP30 organizers also aim to amplify the voices of Amazonian and Indigenous communities. These groups have long fought to preserve their lands and traditional knowledge, which often include sustainable practices that align with the forest’s natural balance. Their input is critical in shaping conservation policies that both protect the Amazon and support local livelihoods.

Furthermore, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has committed to curbing deforestation and upholding environmental policies, providing hope that COP30 could reinforce Brazil’s commitment to environmental protection on the global stage. As the Amazon’s guardian country, Brazil’s actions and promises during COP30 could set an influential example for other nations.

Hosting such a large event also raises concerns about the environmental impact of travel and infrastructure expansion required for the conference. As thousands of people fly into the city, there’s an inherent carbon footprint that accompanies such global events. Therefore, measures to offset these emissions will be critical in ensuring that COP30 aligns with its own environmental goals.

One local organization stepping up its sustainability efforts in light of COP30 is the Radisson Hotel Belém. As one of the city’s top hotels, the Radisson is not only preparing to accommodate international visitors but also positioning itself as a model for environmental responsibility in the hospitality industry.

The hotel has initiated several sustainability programs to reduce its ecological footprint and contribute positively to the city’s green efforts:

  1. Energy efficiency: the hotel has upgraded its facilities to include energy-efficient LED lighting, high-efficiency air conditioning systems, and a smart energy management system that reduces unnecessary energy usage. These changes significantly lower the hotel’s carbon emissions, setting an example of energy-conscious operations.

  2. Water conservation: Radisson has implemented water-saving measures throughout the hotel, such as low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets. Additionally, guests are encouraged to reuse towels and linens, which helps reduce water and energy use associated with laundry.

  3. Waste reduction: recognizing the environmental impact of plastic waste, Radisson has minimized its use of single-use plastics. The hotel offers refillable toiletry dispensers in rooms and encourages guests to use provided water stations instead of single-use bottled water. A robust recycling program is also in place, ensuring that waste is properly sorted and recycled.

  4. Locally sourced and sustainable food: the hotel’s restaurant partners with local farmers and suppliers to source seasonal and organic ingredients, reducing food miles and supporting local businesses. By prioritizing locally grown produce, the Radisson reduces its carbon footprint and promotes sustainable agriculture in the region.

  5. Eco-ccertification and staff training: Radisson Belém is pursuing green certification to formalize its commitment to sustainability. The hotel also actively trains staff in sustainable practices and encourages them to engage guests in eco-friendly initiatives, creating a culture of environmental responsibility among both staff and visitors.

  6. Community and environmental engagement: in the lead-up to COP30, Radisson has taken part in local reforestation initiatives and supported environmental education programs. These projects are part of the hotel’s commitment to giving back to the community and helping preserve the Amazon.

The efforts of local establishments like Radisson Hotel Belém highlight the potential for the private sector to contribute meaningfully to environmental sustainability. By adopting eco-friendly practices, Radisson serves as a model for other businesses in the region and demonstrates that hospitality and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.

MEER interviewed Diogo Ayres, General Manager of Radisson Maiorana-Belém, and Flávia Buiati, VP of Finance and Legal at Atlantica Hospitality International and Aja ambassador.

Belém has been chosen to host COP30, the world’s largest climate event, in November 2025. How is the Radisson hotel in Belém preparing to welcome participants for this global gathering?

Diogo Ayres: Hosting an event of this scale puts our city on the international stage. We’re expecting around 40,000 attendees during the peak days, including approximately 7,000 delegates from UN member countries. This is a unique opportunity, and we approach it with great responsibility. We’re strengthening our training programs to ensure our team is fully prepared to welcome our guests with the utmost care and attention. We’ve established a leadership group to proactively address key issues like security, preventive maintenance, and the quality of services we offer. Our goal is to complete all improvements at least 90 days ahead of the COP30 schedule.

Does the hotel have any initiatives focused on environmental sustainability and indigenous communities?

Diogo Ayres: Our hotel closely follows the guidelines of Atlantica Hospitality International through our Aja program, which is built on three pillars: environmental action, people development, and values. Under Aja for the Planet, we aim to reduce water usage and CO2 emissions. By next year, all hotels we manage will operate with 100% renewable energy. By the end of this year, we will have replaced PET bottles with cans or reusable containers, thereby eliminating plastic from our operations. We’re also on track to implement proper disposal for both recyclable and organic waste, diverting it from landfills and supporting the recycling economy.

The Aja for People pillar fosters a workplace that values diversity and equality, encouraging individual growth so everyone can thrive. We’re also committed to combating child exploitation and violence, working in partnership with Childhood Brasil. Lastly, Aja for Values emphasizes transparency and trust in all our relationships—whether with staff, guests, or investors—and drives us to maintain consistent, robust corporate governance practices.

If you would like, could you share something interesting about the hotel network’s approach to climate and sustainability issues?

Flávia Buiati: At Atlantica Hospitality International, we have always embraced practices focused on conscious resource consumption, fostering a welcoming and safe environment for everyone, and prioritizing the development of our team members. In 2021, we launched our ESG program, Aja, to make a more structured and ambitious impact on the world through three key pillars:

  • Aja for the Planet: promotes conscious consumption, minimizes operational impact, and preserves the planet’s natural resources.

  • Aja for People: fosters an environment of inclusion, diversity, and equality.

  • Aja for Our Values: upholds the best practices in corporate governance.

In 2023, we progressed significantly with the implementation of ambitious, achievable goals, resulting in the publication of our first Sustainability Report, which we are particularly proud of, especially for our diversity metrics:

  • Sexual orientation: our diversity is 4 percentage points above the national average.

  • Race and ethnicity: 56% of our team identifies as Black or mixed-race, mirroring Brazil’s population diversity.

  • Gender: we have 10 percentage points more women than the national demographic, with 60% of leadership roles held by women.

We continue to advance our ESG strategy, focusing on the following areas:

  • Water: by the end of 2024, we aim to implement water reduction plans in 100% of our hotels and achieve a 15% reduction in cubic meters per occupied room by 2028.

  • Energy: by 2025, we aim for 100% of our properties to use renewable energy and achieve a 10% reduction in kilowatt-hours per occupied room by 2028.

  • Plastic: we are replacing miniature amenity bottles with reusable dispensers and eliminating single-use plastic containers across all hotels by year-end.

  • Waste: by 2024, 100% of our hotels will implement a program to measure generated waste.

  • Social: we are committed to fostering an internal demographic that is more diverse and inclusive than the society we serve. Additionally, through the Infância Livre project, we aim to raise R$250,000 in donations for Childhood Brasil.

  • Governance: we plan to launch an investor app, complementing our existing portal, along with a risk mitigation plan for all hotels. We will also introduce a single document encompassing all operational standards, manuals, and policies.

The city’s efforts to integrate eco-conscious practices into its infrastructure, hospitality, and local initiatives highlight its commitment to a greener future. With less than a year to go, Belém’s preparations serve as a reminder that the actions taken in the lead-up to the conference will resonate far beyond the event itself, contributing to long-term environmental and social change for both the city and the world.