COP30 Climate Talks Head Toward a Dramatic Ending Amid Fire

A worker runs carrying fire extinguishers towards a pavilion after a fire broke out at COP30 in Belem, Brazil.
Photographer: Pablo Porciuncula/AFP/Getty Images

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By Jennifer A Dlouhy, Fabiano Maisonnave, John Ainger, Andrea Jaramillo, Renata Carlos Daou, and Laura Millan

November 20, 2025 at 8:39 PM UTC

Drama and danger gripped climate talks in Brazil on Thursday. The danger: A fire broke out at the venue. The drama: A draft agreement is set to strike language about a road map to end fossil fuel use supported by 80 countries. The metaphors: very on the nose.

We’re bringing you a special edition of the Green Daily to share what we know about the blaze, how the disruption is impacting negotiations and the road map showdown.