The event, held in front of Mercado São Brás, was one of the biggest side events of the conference
This Saturday (15), it was the scene of intense protests and demonstrations around the the UN climate conference. With the participation of more than 70,000 people, social movements organized the Global March for Climate, with the motto “From the Amazon to the World: End Inequality and Environmental Racism, Climate Justice”. The event, held in front of Mercado São Brás, was one of the biggest side events of the conference. In addition to the central agenda of climate justice, the protesters addressed issues such as security in the Amazon region, the rights of indigenous and traditional peoples, and the privatization of rivers. Indigenous people from the lower Tapajós, for example, protested against the creation of waterways on the Tapajós River, demanding the revocation of federal government decrees that favor the privatization of water resources in the region.
The march was also attended by international representatives of social movements from Africa, Asia and Venezuela, reinforcing the global nature of the fight for climate. The Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, was among the participants, declaring that COP 30 is “the COP of truth”, highlighting the importance of taking discussions on climate change to the streets and squares, in addition to the diplomatic environments of the UN.
The event also served as a platform for the launch of an important document by indigenous representatives, which will be delivered to the Brazilian government. Among the points highlighted are the threats posed by large infrastructure projects, such as Ferrogrão and new waterways, which put the environmental integrity and territorial rights of indigenous peoples at risk. Despite the large number of demonstrations and popular mobilization, negotiations at COP 30 continue at a slow pace. Bruno Pinheiro, Jovem Pan’s special envoy, reported live that, so far, negotiations have not made substantial progress. An extraordinary session was called to try to speed up progress, but there is still no expected conclusion of the debates, with agreements expected to only be signed by the end of next week.
Meanwhile, protesters continue to press for concrete results. The hope is that the conference will lead to an agenda of effective actions against deforestation and the predatory exploitation of natural resources in the Amazon, in addition to establishing commitments that bring social and climate justice to the most vulnerable populations. COP 30 continues to be a point of convergence for the debate on the future of the planet, with an emphasis on preserving the Amazon and tackling inequalities that affect both local communities and the global environment.
