Fewer than 60 world leaders confirmed for Brazil climate summit

BRASÍLIA, Nov 01 (AFP): Brazil said Friday fewer than 60 world leaders have confirmed their attendance of an Amazonian summit next week ahead of the annual UN climate conference, a smaller number than previous years.

The COP30 climate conference in the city of Belem from November 10 to 21 will be preceded by a summit of heads of state and government on November 6-7 -- held separately this year to ease accommodation pressures.

Some 50,000 people are expected in Belem, which is home to 1.4 million residents, more than half of whom live in shantytowns.

With a shortage of traditional hotel rooms, conference organizers scrambled to find alternative accommodation in private homes, universities and schools, and even two cruise ships docked in the harbor some 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the conference center.