Fire at COP30 Pavilion Sparks Wave of Misinformation About Chinese Gift

A fire that broke out Thursday afternoon at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil has become the latest flashpoint in an ongoing wave of misinformation targeting China’s participation in the global climate summit.

The blaze, which started around 2:15 PM at the East African Community stand in the Africa Pavilion area, was quickly contained with no serious injuries reported. However, within hours, numerous social media accounts began spreading false claims that the fire occurred in the Chinese pavilion, with some suggesting it was divine retribution for a controversial Chinese artwork recently gifted to Brazil.

“Fire in one of the pavilions at COP30 in Belém-PA. Could this be the ‘response’ to the demonic statue gifted by China for COP30?” read one post on X/Twitter, exemplifying the rapid spread of misinformation following the incident.

According to eyewitnesses at the conference, the evacuation process was chaotic and lacked proper emergency protocols. Marcelo Rocha, executive director of the Ayika Institute, who was scheduled to present in an adjacent pavilion, reported: “There was no evacuation warning; we were the ones who started to organize ourselves. It was civilians who grabbed the fire extinguishers and tried to put out the fire.”

The fire’s actual location at the East African Community stand was clearly documented, yet numerous social media accounts and some media outlets incorrectly associated it with China. One satirical profile emphatically posted “BOLSONARO IS RIGHT. CHINA PAVILION!!!!!”, further fueling the confusion.

This mischaracterization appears to be part of a larger pattern of misinformation targeting China’s participation in COP30, particularly centered around China’s gift to Brazil – an artwork titled “Guardian Spirit Dragon-Jaguar” that combines elements of Chinese and Brazilian cultural symbols.

The statue has become a lightning rod for criticism from religious groups in Brazil. Apostle Estevam Hernandes of the Renascer church publicly stated that “the horned dragon is the biblical symbol of deception and power contrary to God” and claimed the work suggests “a fusion of national identity with values that do not reflect our Christian tradition.”

In response to the incident, COP30 organizers issued a statement at 2:58 PM announcing that the Blue Zone had been transferred to the host country’s responsibility. “The host country’s fire chief ordered the evacuation of the entire site. The Fire Department will conduct full safety checks and should provide an update at 4 PM,” the statement read.

Later in the afternoon, Tourism Minister Celso Sabino confirmed that the fire had been controlled but did not announce when activities would resume in the affected pavilion. By early evening, the COP presidency released an update stating that “the fire was brought under control in approximately six minutes” and that “13 individuals were treated on site for smoke inhalation.”

As a precautionary measure, the Brazilian government and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) jointly decided to temporarily close the Blue Zone pending a thorough safety assessment by fire officials. The Green Zone remained open with scheduled activities continuing as planned.

The rapid spread of misinformation about the fire highlights the increasingly politicized nature of climate discussions, particularly regarding China’s role in global climate initiatives. The incident demonstrates how actual events can be quickly weaponized and distorted to align with pre-existing narratives and political agendas.

Officials have indicated that a full investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, with additional updates expected. Meanwhile, climate discussions and negotiations at COP30 face delays as safety inspections continue throughout the venue.

This report was originally produced by Agência Pública as part of the Collaborative Socio-environmental Coverage of COP30.