By Felipe de Carvalho, in Belém
14
November 2025
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 described the demonstrations as
“legitimate” and confirmed that the government is
listening. Protesters were directed to meet with the
Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sônia Guajajara, and the
Minister of the 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 was meant to ensure Indigenous voices
are heard.
Indigenous youth voices underline
urgency
For Indigenous youth participants, the
protest reflects both the urgency of their demands and the
value of being present at the international
conference.
Amanda Pankará, from the Pankará people
in Pernambuco, told UN News that COP30 provides a
space where Indigenous issues can gain greater
visibility.
“We would have much more to contribute
if more Indigenous people were participating in these
discussions. These demands are valid. We are claiming the
right to land, the right to life… Being here today,
representing those who haven’t had the opportunity to be
here, reinforces our presence and responsibility. We are the
ones who create this protective barrier, so we want to be
heard.”
Commitment to climate action
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During
a meeting held on Thursday, many Indigenous leaders
described COP30 as the most inclusive climate conference
they had attended.
Chilean Indigenous youth Emiliano
Medina – from the Mapuche people – who participated in the
meeting, said Indigenous representatives reaffirmed their
commitment to combating the climate crisis.
He
emphasized that protests like Friday’s are a way to
present demands and highlight where policies fall short.
“Similar demonstrations have been taking place around the
world in communities affected by climate change,” he
said.
‘COP in the Amazon is meant to hear these
voices’
Ana Toni stressed that holding COP30 in the
Amazon enables broad participation by Indigenous peoples,
something that would have been more limited if the event
were held in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, or Brasília. She
assured that the voices of demonstrators are being heard and
noted that further demonstrations are expected throughout
COP30.
“The purpose of holding a conference in the
Amazon is precisely to listen to these demands,” she
concluded.
