‘Legitimate’ protests and government response
COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni called the protests “legitimate” and confirmed that the government is listening. The protesters were due to meet with the Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sônia Guajajara, and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva.
Ms. Toni highlighted that COP30 has more than 900 indigenous participants, a significant increase from the 300 recorded at last year’s conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“Brazil has a strong democracy that allows different forms of protest, both inside and outside the conference,” he said, adding that hosting COP30 in the Amazon was aimed at ensuring indigenous voices are heard.
Security officers guard the headquarters of the UN Climate Conference as the Mundurukú indigenous people protest.
The voices of indigenous youth underline the urgency
For the young indigenous participants, the protest reflects both the urgency of their demands and the value of being present at the international conference.
Amanda Pankara, from the Pankara town of Pernambuco, said UN News that COP30 provides a space where indigenous issues can gain greater visibility.
“We would have much more to contribute if more indigenous peoples participated in these discussions. These demands are valid. We are demanding the right to land, the right to life… Being here today, representing those who have not had the opportunity to be here, reinforces our presence and responsibility. We are the ones who create this protective barrier, that is why we want to be heard.”
Commitment to climate action
During a meeting on Thursday, many indigenous leaders described COP30 as the most inclusive climate conference they had attended.
The young Chilean indigenous man Emiliano Medina – from the Mapuche people – who participated in the meeting, said that the indigenous representatives reaffirmed their commitment to combat the climate crisis.
He emphasized that protests like the one on Friday are a way to present demands and highlight where policies fail. “Similar protests have occurred around the world in communities affected by climate change,” he said.
Indigenous people block the entrance to the UN Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil.
‘The COP in the Amazon is destined to listen to these voices’
Ana Toni highlighted that holding COP30 in the Amazon allows for broad participation by indigenous peoples, something that would have been more limited if the event had been held in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo or Brasilia. He assured that the voices of the protesters are being heard and noted that more demonstrations are expected throughout COP30.
“The purpose of holding a conference in the Amazon is precisely to listen to these demands,” he concluded.
UN Newsis reporting from Belém, giving you front-row coverage of everything happening at COP30.