With only months left until the meeting in November, the Swedish delegation still has no booked accommodation. They have received an offer, but prices of 500–700 dollars per night and person make them hesitant.
A proposal from the host nation is that countries send fewer delegates. This may be the case for Sweden, says Sweden's chief negotiator Mattias Frumerie.
Prices so high
Yes, unfortunately, I think it will become a reality that individual delegation members will not have the opportunity to participate because the prices will be so high.
The Church of Sweden will have people on site since they finally found accommodation in Belém, Brazil, where the meeting is held. But they warn that the high prices risk limiting participation from developing countries – especially from climate-vulnerable groups that have the greatest need to make their voices heard in the negotiations.
The same criticism has been expressed by many others, including the Brazilian climate organization Observatório do Clima, which believes that a reduced number of delegates can undermine the legitimacy of everything negotiated during the meeting.
It is clear that there is such a concern. If a number of countries are not represented as they usually are, there is a risk that the legitimacy will be questioned when decisions are made without all countries having the opportunity to make their voices heard, says Mattias Frumerie.
Democratic safety net
The chairman of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Karin Lexén, is on the same line.
If this important dialogue with other actors becomes worse because they cannot afford to participate, or that there is no space, then one can begin to discuss the legitimacy of the decisions.
It was long unclear whether she would attend this year's COP. She points to the high accommodation prices as a major problem for both poor countries and civil society.
It is the countries that negotiate, but we see civil society as a kind of democratic safety net at these climate meetings. It is important that we are on site and ask questions and bring in perspectives.
Boel Holm/TT
Facts: UN Climate Conference
TT
The UN's climate summits, COP, are held in different locations every year. COP stands for "Conference of the Parties" and refers to the parties to the UN's climate convention. COP30 is being held this year in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21.
