Indigenous groups held [14] protests [15] Nov. 14 in Belém, blocking the main entrance to the restricted area at the UN Climate Summit [16] (COP30 [17]) to demand that the Brazilian government halt extractive projects that jeopardize their cultures and livelihoods.
The protesters mostly belonged to the Munduruku [18] [19]indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest, who inhabit [20] the states of Amazonas and Pará (of which Belém is the capital). They blocked access to the COP30 venue, which required the army to intervene to reinforce security. Protesters' demands included increased representation of indigenous peoples in COP30 and the UN climate process, as well as an end to extractive activities that threaten Munduruku territories in the Tapajós and Xingu River basins, highlighting that decisions made at a global level have direct impacts on their livelihoods.
Indigenous participants at COP30 expressed their support for the protest. A Chilean indigenous youth representing the Mapuche people, Emiliano Medina, asserted that such protests are a response to growing challenges faced by indigenous populations from mining [21] and industrial activities [22], including land grabs and forced displacements.
Brazilian Environment Ministry official Ana Toni, executive director of COP30, affirmed that Brazil's government is attentive to the concerns raised by the protesters. She emphasized that COP30 has seen an increase of 600 indigenous participants compared to the previous year's conference in Azerbaijan. Toni stressed that selecting Belém as the venue for COP30 was intended to facilitate participation by indigenous peoples, and amplify their voices in the climate dialogue. She also stated that the Brazilian government permits diverse forms of protest and anticipates additional demonstrations during the conference.
The central themes of COP30 include strategies to limit [23] the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C, the submission of updated national action plans, and the evaluation of progress regarding financial commitments established at COP29, which climate activists have deemed insufficient [24].
In March, Transparency International urged [25] the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to take measures to restore trust in the COP process and prevent fossil fuel lobbyists [26] from hindering negotiations. In October, rights organizations called on [27] Brazilian authorities to implement safeguards to ensure the protection of the rights of civil society members at the COP30, including indigenous people, who face life-threatening environmental risks [28] due to mining and other extractive activities in their territories. Environmental activists are increasingly targeted [29] with repressive measures worldwide, which the UN has described [30] as a threat to both climate action and human rights.
From JURIST [31], Nov. 15. Used with permission. Internal links added.
