Negotiations Paused at Critical Juncture

BELÉM, BRAZIL – A fire broke out at the Hangar Convention Center, the venue for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), on Thursday, November 20, 2025, forcing the evacuation of thousands of delegates and temporarily derailing critical climate negotiations. The incident occurred in the late afternoon, around 2:00 PM local time (8:00 PM EAT), interrupting the penultimate day of the summit as ministers were engaged in intense discussions to finalize agreements on fossil fuels and climate finance.

According to a joint statement from the COP30 Presidency and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the fire started in the "Blue Zone," a restricted area for official negotiations and pavilions. UN security and local fire departments responded swiftly, controlling the blaze within approximately six minutes. While Brazil's Tourism Minister, Celso Sabino, stated there were no serious injuries, official reports confirmed that between 13 and 21 individuals were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. The Brazilian Health Ministry later clarified that 19 people were treated for smoke inhalation and two for anxiety, with no burn injuries reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though officials suspect an electrical fault. Helder Barbalho, the governor of Pará state where Belém is located, told local media that authorities are considering a generator failure or a short circuit as the likely origin. The fire reportedly started near the pavilions for China and several African nations.

Implications for Kenya and East Africa's Agenda

The disruption came at a pivotal moment for Kenya and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), who have been forcefully advocating for a robust outcome on climate finance. Just a day prior, on Wednesday, November 19, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa, delivered a powerful address demanding developed nations provide new, accessible, and grant-based funding for adaptation. "Promises and pledges are no longer sufficient," Barasa stated, highlighting the severe droughts and floods that have devastated Kenya and the wider East Africa region.

Kenya, which generates over 90% of its electricity from renewable sources, has positioned itself as a leader in the global push for a structured phase-out of fossil fuels. Alongside partners like Germany, France, and Colombia, Kenya has been lobbying for a clear roadmap at COP30 to end fossil fuel dependency, arguing that advanced economies must lead the way and provide the necessary financial and technological support for an equitable transition in developing nations. The temporary shutdown of negotiations risked stalling momentum on these crucial issues, which are central to the region's ability to build resilience against escalating climate impacts.

The East African Community (EAC) has been working to present a unified front at the summit, recognizing the region's high vulnerability to climate change, which manifests in food insecurity, droughts, and floods. The African Union has also emphasized the growing crisis of climate-induced migration on the continent, a reality that informs the urgent push for funding for loss and damage.

Venue Reopens, Negotiations Resume

Following a comprehensive safety assessment by the fire department, the UNFCCC and the COP30 Presidency announced the Blue Zone was deemed safe and reopened later the same evening at 8:40 PM local time (2:40 AM, Friday, EAT). Negotiations were set to resume on Friday, the final scheduled day of the conference. In their statement, the organizers acknowledged the significant work still ahead and expressed confidence that "delegates will return to the negotiations in a spirit of solidarity and determination to ensure a successful outcome for this COP." The area directly affected by the fire will remain isolated for the remainder of the conference.

The incident has, however, cast a spotlight on the logistical preparations for the massive summit, which has attracted over 50,000 participants. Reports noted that much of the venue had been under construction right up to the start of the conference, raising questions about infrastructure readiness. Despite the disruption, the focus for the Kenyan delegation and its allies remains squarely on securing concrete financial commitments to address the climate crisis that disproportionately affects the African continent.