The head of state of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, told AFP on Thursday, August 7 that he would not participate in Cop30 in Brazil in November, in particular due to the “exceptionally high costs this year.”
Austria currently applies a rigor policy that affects all its institutions due to a public deficit considered excessive by the European Union, of which it is a member.
Hotel nights more than 1,000 euros
“Our budget consolidation requires financial cuts and a shared discipline, added Alexander van der Bellen, while stressing the importance of the COP and wishing” all possible success “in Brazil. At the beginning of July, he said that” he doubted to go “to Belem, ironic that we could have had to sleep out”, “if the infrastructure was not infringement.”
Last week, the host country had excluded to change places when participants had expressed their dissatisfaction with accommodation costs. Belem has 1.3 million inhabitants and hotel offers can exceed $ 1,000 per night, COP30 denounces “abuse” in the sector.
But its president André Correa do Lago said that “those who listen to their voice are the countries that are part of the groups of small islands, relatively less developed or African.” Even if it has a deficit, Austria is among the richest in the world and this European country of 9.2 million inhabitants is one of the few who has chosen an ecological leader.
It is scheduled for a new meeting of COP organizers for continuous dialogue on topics such as accommodation. Brazil hopes to accommodate about 50,000 people at the top and says they have identified homes for 53,000 people in Belem. The UN Climate Conference will take place from November 10 to 21 and will be preceded by a National Leaders Meeting on November 6 and 7.
Source: BFM TV
