Justicia Shipena
The Namibian delegation to the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) escaped unharmed after a fire broke out at the conference venue on Thursday afternoon.
Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that all Namibian delegates were safely evacuated and accounted for.
“No one from the Namibian team was affected by the fire. We all came out in time and unharmed,” he said.
The climate conference organisers halted all pavilion activities, including Namibia’s, while emergency teams responded.
COP30, which is taking place in Belém, Brazil, enters its final day today.
Muyunda said the Namibian team remains prepared for the closing announcements expected from the COP authorities.
Namibia is hosting its National Pavilion under the theme “Accelerating Green Transitions: Namibia’s Pathway to Climate Resilience and Sustainable Growth.”
The pavilion is coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, the EIF, and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board.
It serves as a platform for high-level discussions, investment talks and technical exchanges.
This year’s conference, which started on 10 November, focuses on a just and inclusive transition, climate finance, and protecting vulnerable communities.
COP30 will approve 100 indicators to track progress on adaptation, giving countries a way to measure and compare results.
The UN says 172 countries have at least one adaptation plan, but 36 are outdated.
The UN confirmed that the fire was contained and caused only limited damage. The cause is not yet known.
The fire disrupted negotiations that were in their final hours as nearly 200 countries tried to agree on next steps to tackle climate change, with climate finance at the centre of talks.
Reports say some delegations sought shelter under a petrol station roof after the evacuation.
The COP30 organisers reported that the fire started in the Blue Zone and that the fire department and UN security teams managed to control it within six minutes.
Thirteen people were treated on site for smoke inhalation and are still being monitored.
The Brazilian government and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have kept the Blue Zone closed while a safety assessment is carried out.
Delegates were informed that an update on the situation would be provided later on Thursday.
The UN thanked participants for their cooperation and stressed that safety remains the priority.
The Green Zone remains open and activities there continue.
Special envoys for strategic regions described the incident as unfortunate and expressed their solidarity with Brazil.
“Our work is unfinished. We hope all delegates will come together with the determination and commitment to successfully conclude the work of COP30,” they said in a joint statement from Belém.
