A large protest march formed today at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP3O) being held in Brazil.
Thousands of indigenous and international climate activists marched through downtown Belém, where COP30 is being held.
With the “March for the Climate”, protesters are fighting for climate justice and the defense of the ancestral rights of indigenous communities, which are threatened by loggers and illegal gold miners.
Unlike previous climate conferences held in authoritarian states such as Azerbaijan, this year protests have been allowed in this Amazonian city as talks are underway.
Yesterday, Friday, dozens of indigenous people and other climate activists blocked the main entrance to the conference for hours. On Tuesday afternoon, indigenous activists stormed the entrance to the conference venue and engaged in minor skirmishes with security forces.
At COP30, around 200 countries are continuing discussions until the end of next week on how to limit global warming more quickly.
The focus is now on a road map to move away from oil, gas and coal. In addition, there are requests from developing countries for financial assistance to better adapt to immediate consequences of climate change such as more frequent and severe rainfall and droughts, heat waves, fires and storms.
Alongside the Climate Change Conference, the “People’s Summit” takes place at the University of Belém, with the participation of hundreds of organizations, movements and networks from Brazil and abroad.
