Indigenous Protests Intensify as COP30 Enters Sixth Day in the Amazon

 

 The 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) entered its sixth day on Saturday amid mounting tensions, as Indigenous groups intensified protests over what they describe as systematic exclusion from the heart of global climate negotiations.

The summit, running from 10–21 November, was deliberately placed in Belém — known as the gateway to the Amazon — to spotlight the connection between forest protection and global climate action. It was also meant to elevate the voices of communities living on the frontline of the climate crisis. Instead, those very groups say they are being sidelined.

On Friday, hundreds of Indigenous demonstrators blocked the main entrance to the summit venue, accusing world leaders of shutting them out of high-stakes talks that will shape future climate policy. They argue that while they suffer most from droughts, wildfires, extreme weather, and accelerating deforestation, their involvement has been relegated to side events rather than the core negotiations that determine global outcomes.

Security around the venue has since been reinforced — a development protesters say feels intimidating and contradicts the conference’s stated commitment to inclusivity.

Among the most prominent figures leading the demonstrations is Chief Raoni Metuktire, one of the world’s most recognised Indigenous leaders. He called on attending governments to strengthen legal protection of Amazon territories and to honour longstanding demands for secure Indigenous land rights, a cornerstone of effective forest conservation.

Inside the conference halls, negotiations continue at a rapid pace. Brazil is pushing for a bold new climate-finance roadmap that would mobilise USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to help developing countries transition to clean energy and fortify climate resilience. Delegates are also examining the proposed “Tropical Forest Forever” facility — a mechanism aimed at making forest conservation more lucrative than deforestation.

Other major agenda points include updated national climate commitments, expanded renewable-energy investment, and mounting climate-related losses, from deadly heatwaves to flooding and forced displacement across vulnerable nations.

Meanwhile, just a few kilometres away, the People’s Summit at the Federal University of Pará has surged in attendance and visibility. Free from diplomatic constraints, it has become a vibrant counter-platform featuring music, cultural performance, and grassroots policy debates. Many attendees view it as the true embodiment of community-centered climate action — and a stark contrast to the formal negotiations taking place inside COP30.

With the conference set to conclude on 21 November, several critical questions remain unresolved: Will countries agree to increase climate finance? Will forest-protection proposals gain meaningful traction? And crucially, will Indigenous voices finally be granted space within the official negotiation outcomes?

For now, the Amazon continues to echo with both hope and frustration — a reminder that the world’s most vital climate decisions are unfolding in one of its most fragile ecosystems.