Talks at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, were temporarily disrupted on Thursday after a fire broke out inside the main conference venue, forcing negotiators, delegates, and UN staff to evacuate the building. The incident occurred just as negotiators were entering a critical phase of discussions aimed at securing a stronger global climate deal.

Authorities said the fire was quickly contained, and no injuries were reported. However, the evacuation caused significant delays during a pivotal moment in the summit, where ministers were working to bridge gaps on emissions targets, climate finance, and global adaptation commitments.

UN Secretary General António Guterres had earlier urged world leaders to “step up with urgency” and deliver an agreement capable of keeping the 1.5°C climate goal alive. He warned that the world is “running out of time and out of reasons to delay,” calling for a rapid phaseout of fossil fuels and a dramatic increase in financing for developing nations.

COP30, hosted in the Amazon region, has been seen as one of the most consequential climate summits in years. The event comes amid record global temperatures, escalating climate disasters, and increased pressure on major emitters to commit to faster and deeper emissions cuts. Brazil, which will assume a leading role in shaping climate diplomacy during its presidency, aims to use COP30 to highlight the Amazon’s central importance in global climate stability.

Despite the disruption, conference organisers said negotiations would resume once the venue was cleared and safety measures confirmed, with delegates hoping the incident will not derail progress on an already tight timetable.