Indigenous People In Brazil Broke Into COP30 To Protest For Land Protection And Climate Justice
“We want our lands free from agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners and illegal loggers.”
Dozens of Indigenous activists broke into the conference center of the UN’s COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, to demand climate action and forest protection.
On Tuesday, Nov. 11, the protesters from communities across the Amazon broke into “Blue Zone”, the main venue where world leaders gathered for the climate talks, carrying signs saying “Our land is not for sale.”
“We can’t eat money,” an Indigenous leader from the Tupinamba community said. “We want our lands free from agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners and illegal loggers.”
The Coalition of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) said about 2,500 Indigenous representatives are expected to attend the conference, but only 360 were given access to the Blue Zone, where official negotiations take place.
A youth mobilization coordinator with the Global Youth Coalition said the activists were initially walking toward the venue peacefully, but things escalated when the security tried to forcefully close the door and called for more security, according to AP.
Security officers moved to block them, pushing protesters back and using chairs and tables to barricade the entrance.
“Earlier this evening, a group of protesters breached security barriers at the main entrance to the COP, causing minor injuries to two security staff, and minor damage to the venue,” a spokesperson from UN Climate Change later said in a statement.
The protest came as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — commonly known as Lula — promised to end illegal deforestation by 2030 and emphasized that Indigenous communities must play a central role in climate policy.
Activists said they plan to hold daily actions throughout the conference, including marches, performances and river demonstrations led by Indigenous leaders.
Cici Xiao
Sofia Hou
