Vibrant Protests Mark COP30 Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil

Sat Nov 15 2025 19:34:17 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Thousands gather in Belém, Brazil, to demand action on climate change as negotiations continue at COP30, highlighting the critical role of indigenous communities.

In a powerful display of unity and urgency, thousands of climate activists have marched outside the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil. Carrying banners and chanting powerful slogans, demonstrators emphasized the necessity of action against fossil fuels and the protection of the Amazon. This marks the first time since 2021 that protests have been allowed outside the UN climate talks, with indigenous groups and youth activists leading the way.

Marching to the beat of pounding sound systems, thousands of climate protesters have been bringing their message to the gates of the COP30 climate talks in Brazil.

Chanting and singing free the Amazon, demonstrators in host city Belém have been carrying three giant coffins reading Oil, Coal and Gas flanked by two grim reapers.

Indigenous groups displayed signs reading the answer is us as an inflatable elephant and anaconda weaved through the crowd under the hot sun.

It is the first time since 2021 that protesters have been allowed to demonstrate outside the UN climate talks. The last three took place in countries that do not permit public protest.

Fossil fuels are still being burned. We know all too well what it's like to live on the frontline of climate change, Brianna Fruean, a climate activist from Samoa, a low-lying island extremely vulnerable to climate change, told the BBC.

We are here after so many COPS, marching for justice, for the end of fossil fuels, Ilan, from the non-governmental organisation 350, who lives in Brazil, said.

Indigenous communities, Brazilian youth groups, and activists joined the march in their thousands.

Some carried signs reading demarcation now, calling for indigenous groups to be given legal ownership of their territories.

Hundreds of indigenous groups live in the Amazon and are regarded by experts as the best protectors of biodiversity and forests.

Smaller sister protests have taken place around the world including in the UK.

This surge of activism comes as the COP30 talks continue with nearly 200 countries addressing climate change, amidst concerns over the slow progress in negotiations.