Indigenous groups and environmental activists disrupted proceedings at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, on Tuesday night, demanding immediate measures to protect the Amazon rainforest from deforestation and industrial exploitation.
Demonstrators, including indigenous leaders, breached security barriers at the venue while chanting slogans and displaying banners reading “Our Forests Are Not for Sale.” Some protesters, dressed in traditional attire, clashed with UN and Brazilian security personnel, resulting in minor injuries to two staff members and limited property damage.
Footage circulating online showed members of the Juntos youth movement among the protesters. One security officer was reportedly struck by a drum during the confrontation. The United Nations confirmed that demonstrators penetrated the outer security perimeter but were prevented from entering restricted areas.
Both Brazilian authorities and the UN have launched investigations into the breach, which is rare at international climate gatherings known for strict security controls.
The protest underscored deep frustrations among indigenous communities and environmental advocates, who accuse governments and corporations of prioritizing profits over planetary survival.
“This is not just about the Amazon; it’s about the planet,” said Tupinamba leader Araci Guajajara, adding, “We can’t eat money.”
COP30, running from November 10–21, marks ten years since the Paris Agreement, bringing together representatives from nearly 200 countries to review global climate targets. However, activists say holding the conference in Belém—on the fringes of the Amazon—highlights the contradictions in Brazil’s environmental policies, including continued deforestation, new oil exploration licenses, and agribusiness expansion.
Environmental experts warn that deforestation in the Amazon, which absorbs vast amounts of carbon dioxide, could push the world closer to catastrophic climate tipping points.
The protest has ignited widespread debate online, with many praising the demonstrators for drawing attention to the urgency of forest preservation. Analysts say the incident reinforces calls for climate justice and for greater inclusion of indigenous voices in shaping global environmental policy.
As the summit continues, negotiators face mounting pressure to move beyond pledges and adopt concrete measures to halt Amazon deforestation and protect vulnerable communities from environmental degradation.
