The Munduruku, who live primarily in the Amazon states of Amazonas, Mato Grosso and Pará, are demanding an end to projects and extractive activities that threaten indigenous territories, particularly in the Tapajós and Xingu river basins.
“Legitimate” protests and government response
COP30 executive director Ana Toni called the protests “legitimate” and confirmed the government was listening to them. The demonstrators were invited to meet 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 registered at last year’s conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“Brazil has a strong democracy that allows for different forms of protest, both inside and outside the conference,” she said, adding that hosting COP30 in the Amazon aimed to ensure that indigenous voices were heard.
Security guards guard the UN Climate Conference venue as Munduruku indigenous people protest.
The voices of indigenous youth highlight the urgency
For the participating indigenous youth, the demonstration reflects both the urgency of their demands and the value of being present at the international conference.
Amanda Pankará, from the Pankará people of Pernambuco, said UN News that COP30 provides a space where indigenous issues can gain visibility.
“We would have a lot more to contribute if more Indigenous people 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 our responsibility. We are the ones who create this barrier of protection, so we want to be heard.”
Commitment to climate action
At a meeting on Thursday, many indigenous leaders described COP30 as the most inclusive climate conference they had attended.
Young Chilean indigenous Emiliano Medina – from the Mapuche people – who participated in the meeting, said indigenous representatives reaffirmed their commitment to tackling the climate crisis.
He stressed that protests like Friday’s are a way to present demands and highlight policy shortcomings. “Similar protests have taken place around the world, in communities affected by climate change,” he said.
Indigenous people block the entrance to the United Nations Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil.
“The COP in the Amazon is supposed to hear these voices”
Ana Toni highlighted that holding COP30 in the Amazon allows broad participation of indigenous peoples, which would have been more limited if the event had taken place in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo or Brasilia. She assured that protesters’ voices were being heard and noted that further protests are expected throughout COP30.
“The aim of holding a conference in the Amazon is precisely to listen to these demands,” she concluded.
UN NewsEastreport from Belémgiving you front row coverage of everything happening at COP30.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
