Indigenous Leaders Demand Equal Influence With Global Leaders at UN Climate Talks

Around 8,000 Indigenous people from the Amazon and the Pacific gathered in Brazil’s capital recently. Their goal? To demand a stronger voice at this year’s UN climate conference, COP30, which will be held in Belem, Amazon, this November.

Representatives from around 200 Indigenous communities, including Aboriginal Australians, took part in this annual meeting. Dressed in vibrant traditional clothes and adorned with body paint, they are calling for Indigenous leaders to have equal say alongside global politicians at COP30. They seek not just a seat at the table but also direct funding for conservation efforts and projects that help their communities adapt to climate change.

Indigenous peoples, despite being thousands of miles apart, face similar challenges from climate change. Rising sea levels threaten Pacific islands like Fiji, while in South America, last year’s severe drought led to devastating wildfires. In Brazil alone, nearly 18 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest were lost to fires, according to data from MapBiomas.

Alisi Rabukawaqa, a Fijian tribal leader, highlighted the shared struggle between Indigenous communities worldwide, saying, “We have our unique struggles but we also want to be here and show our peoples… that we can fight.”

Sinesio Trovao, from the Brazilian Indigenous Betania Mecurane community, expressed the importance of including Indigenous chiefs in COP30 discussions. He believes those living in villages truly understand the climate challenges their communities face.

Brazil plans to establish a Circle of Indigenous Leadership at COP30, aimed at ensuring Indigenous voices are heard. However, the community wants this involvement to go beyond mere representation. “We want to see how this can be done, tangibly,” Rabukawaqa said.

The week-long rally in Brasilia has the theme “We are the answer.” It includes marches and rallies to raise awareness about Indigenous rights and climate action. A special session on Indigenous rights is scheduled in Congress, showing the government’s attention on these vital issues.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva aims to spotlight the threats facing the Amazon by hosting COP30 there. He has acknowledged the significant role Indigenous communities play in combating climate change. However, he’s also faced criticism from environmental activists for promoting an offshore oil exploration project near the Amazon River, raising questions about his commitment to protecting the rainforest.

As COP30 approaches, the unified call from Indigenous voices is clear: they want acknowledgment, respect, and actionable change as they confront climate challenges together.



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