Indigenous protesters clash with security at COP30 venue in Brazil
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Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists stormed the COP30 venue in Belem, clashing with security forces as they demanded genuine inclusion in climate talks and protection of Amazonian lands.
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Demonstrators protest against carbon markets outside the venue for the COP30 UN Climate Summit, Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in Belem, Brazil. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Tensions flared at the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil on Tuesday night when a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists forced their way into the conference site, calling for greater inclusion in global climate decision-making.
Witnesses said several dozen demonstrators, some adorned with bright feathered headdresses and others carrying banners that read "Our forests are not for sale," broke through the main entrance of the Blue Zone, damaging one of the doors in the process. UN and Brazilian security personnel quickly intervened as the protesters entered, resulting in pushing, shouting, and brief scuffles.
According to UN officials, two security guards sustained minor injuries, and there was limited damage to the venue. The protesters were eventually removed, after which firefighters formed a cordon to block further entry.
COP30
— Ale SBlack (@ale_sblack) November 12, 2025
Que espetáculo 🤩 pic.twitter.com/DmPK08J6x6
Inside the conference center, chants of "they cannot decide for us without us" echoed through the halls, an expression of long-standing frustration among Indigenous communities who feel sidelined in discussions that directly impact their lands. Agustin Ocana, a member of the Global Youth Coalition, told AFP that the demonstrators’ message was clear: "They were not doing this because they were bad people. They’re desperate, trying to protect their land, the [Amazon] river."
Ocana added that he witnessed protesters and guards "hitting each other with small plastic bins used to hold items near secure entrances," and that one guard was bleeding from a head wound.
A UN climate spokesperson confirmed that security forces acted "following all established security protocols" to secure the site, adding that "the venue is fully secured and COP negotiations continue."
Observers described the scene as unprecedented for recent climate summits. "At last, something has happened here," remarked Juan Carlos Monterrey-Gómez, a Panamanian climate negotiator.
Amazon voices rise
The incident reflects rising frustration over resource allocation and representation. Ocana noted that some Indigenous groups resent the investment in constructing "a whole new city" in Belém for the summit while basic needs like education, health, and forest protection elsewhere in the Amazon remain neglected.
Brazil’s hosting of COP30 had been seen as an opportunity to give civil society and Indigenous voices a greater role than in previous conferences held under more restrictive governments. Activist movements have been increasingly visible at this year’s summit, organizing daily demonstrations that, until Tuesday, had remained peaceful.
In the coming days, the protests are expected to intensify, with a "people’s summit," a youth rally, and a flotilla of about 100 boats led by Indigenous leaders Raoni Metuktire and Davi Kopenawa Yanomami scheduled to arrive in Belem.
