Indigenous Protesters Clash with Security at COP30 in Brazil

On November 11, 2025, during the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, Indigenous protesters clashed with security personnel after breaching the main conference venue's entrance. The demonstrators, carrying banners and chanting slogans such as "Our land is not for sale," demanded urgent climate action and greater protection for their territories. They criticized industrial activities like agribusiness, oil exploration, and illegal mining, which they claim are devastating their lands. The confrontation resulted in minor injuries to two security staff and some damage to the venue. Security forces responded by securing the premises, and the COP30 negotiations continued as planned.

The protest underscores the ongoing tensions between Indigenous communities and governmental policies regarding environmental conservation and industrial development in the Amazon region. It also highlights the broader discourse on the inclusion of Indigenous voices in global climate discussions.

In the evening hours, dozens of Indigenous demonstrators and their supporters breached security barriers at the main entrance of the COP30 conference hall. The protesters, carrying banners and chanting slogans such as "Our land is not for sale," demanded urgent climate action and greater protection for their territories. They criticized industrial activities like agribusiness, oil exploration, and illegal mining, which they claim are devastating their lands. The confrontation resulted in minor injuries to two security staff and some damage to the venue. Security forces responded by securing the premises, and the COP30 negotiations continued as planned.

Indigenous communities have long been vocal about the environmental degradation of the Amazon rainforest due to industrial activities. Prior to the summit, around 60 Indigenous leaders completed a symbolic journey from the Andes to the Amazon to demand greater inclusion and protection of their territories. This journey highlighted their deep connection to the land and their knowledge of sustainable living, cultivated over 12,000 years.

A recent report by Earth Insight and the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities found that 17% of Indigenous lands in the Amazon face threats from mining, drilling, and logging. Over 1,690 environmental defenders have been killed or disappeared since 2012 across Amazon countries and beyond. Despite these dangers, Indigenous leaders continue to advocate for the protection of their lands and the environment.

Gilmar, an Indigenous leader from the Tupinamba community near the lower reaches of the Tapajós River in Brazil, expressed frustration over ongoing development in the forest. He stated, "We can't eat money. We want our lands free from agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners, and illegal loggers."

Another leader, Nato from the Tupinamba community, emphasized the need to protect their lands from environmental exploitation.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has highlighted Indigenous communities as key players in this year's COP30 negotiations. Earlier this week, dozens of Indigenous leaders arrived by boat to participate in the talks and demand more say in how forests are managed.

A spokesperson from the UN, which is responsible for security inside the venue, stated that "a group of protesters breached security barriers at the main entrance to the COP, causing minor injuries to two security staff, and minor damage to the venue." The UN emphasized that Brazilian and UN security personnel took protective actions to secure the venue, following all established security protocols.

The Amazon region has a history of conflicts between Indigenous communities and industrial interests. The Putumayo genocide, which occurred during the Amazon rubber boom from 1879 to 1911, involved severe exploitation and subsequent ethnocide of the Indigenous population in the Putumayo region. This history underscores the longstanding struggles of Indigenous communities to protect their lands and way of life.

This incident underscores the tensions between Indigenous communities and governmental policies regarding environmental conservation and industrial development in the Amazon region. It also highlights the broader discourse on the inclusion of Indigenous voices in global climate discussions. The protest reflects the frustration of Indigenous communities over the allocation of resources and their desperation to protect their land and rivers.

As the COP30 summit continues, the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives remains a critical issue. The recent protest serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the concerns of Indigenous communities in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.