Rewards, rivalry, rebellion: Inside the COP30 battle for attention

After a busy opening day at the UN climate talks, the second day of COP30 on Nov Il was replete with rivalry, revelry and rebellion.

- Ang Qing

Outside official negotiations, countries, companies, academics and other non-state actors also take part in the annual conference, which is being held in Belem, located at the northeastern edge of the Amazon rainforest.

Pavilions, a mainstay of the climate conference, give countries and interest groups the chance to showcase their climate change solutions, and promote their cultures.

Organisers sometimes offer freebies, food and cultural performances to draw crowds to the events and panel discussions at these pavilions.

From South Korea’s popular fan that rides on the high of the film KPop Demon Hunters to competitions over coffee and art, The Straits Times recaps memorable moments from the conference so far.

1. SWELTERING HEAT, TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS

Participants felt the erratic nature of the Amazonian city’s tropical climate, as sweltering heat occasionally gave way to torrential rain, which then flooded parts of the COP30 venue.

A downpour on the first day also tore a hole through the ceiling of the United Kingdom pavilion.

Within the compound’s temporary structures, which were set up on an urban park developed by the city for COP30, jacket-clad participants were seen fanning themselves, even though the Brazilian presidency had relaxed the conference’s dress code, anticipating the sweltering temperatures.

The organisers worked quickly to respond to the weather woes. By the time attendees returned to the venue on day two of the conference, the hole at the UK pavilion was patched up, and electric fans were set up near several pavilions.

But even these measures and the air-conditioning failed to stave off hot and sticky conditions in areas farther away from the plenary and press rooms.

2. THE KPOP DEMON HUNTERS FAN THAT WON FANS