Thousands March in Belém Demanding Climate Action at COP30
Demonstrators in Belém, Brazil, call for urgent climate action during COP30, highlighting Indigenous rights and fossil fuel concerns.
On November 15, 2025, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Belém, Brazil, to demand urgent action on climate change during the COP30 summit. This marked the first major protest outside the annual climate talks since COP26 in 2021, as the previous three conferences were held in countries with limited tolerance for public demonstrations.
The "Great People's March" featured Indigenous groups, environmental activists, and social movement representatives. Participants donned symbolic attire—black to signify fossil fuel funerals and red to represent the blood of environmental defenders. They carried signs with messages such as "Our land is not for sale" and "We can't eat money," emphasizing the need for decisive climate action and protection of Indigenous lands.
A notable segment of the march included a "funeral for fossil fuels," where demonstrators carried three giant coffins labeled "Oil," "Coal," and "Gas," accompanied by individuals dressed as grim reapers. This theatrical display underscored the protesters' call for an end to fossil fuel dependency.
Earlier in the week, on November 11, Indigenous protesters attempted to enter the COP30 venue, resulting in minor injuries to two security staff and limited damage to the site. The demonstrators sought to present their demands directly to conference delegates, highlighting frustrations over industrial and development projects affecting the Amazon rainforest.
The COP30 summit, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, aims to address global climate challenges with a focus on the Amazon region. However, the event has faced logistical challenges, including high accommodation costs in Belém, which have raised concerns about the inclusiveness and accessibility of the conference for delegates from developing nations.
Negotiations at COP30 continue as nearly 200 countries work to make progress on tackling climate change. The demonstrations in Belém reflect the growing demand from civil society for concrete actions to address the climate crisis and protect vulnerable communities.
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