Activists described climate impacts in their home countries and called for youth representation in UN negotiations. Thousands of protesters gathered at the gates of COP30 in Belem, Brazil, blocking the venue in a peaceful standoff.
Brazilian youth organizations, Indigenous communities, and international activists joined the march to pressure leaders during the UN climate meeting. Fridays for Future participants emphasized that young people must influence decisions shaping their future.
Rachelle Junsay from Climate Action Philippines said youth inherit the planet and feel frustrated that decision-makers ignore affected communities. She criticized negotiators for discussing populations while leaving victims out of the conversation.
Protesters Return After Three-Year Pause
Protesters demonstrated outside UN climate talks for the first time since 2021. Organizers promoted the conference as a platform to celebrate and empower Indigenous peoples.
Earlier in the week, activists disrupted sessions twice by surrounding the venue. One event injured two security guards. Saturday’s march stopped short of the venue while full-day negotiations continued.
Many participants welcomed greater freedom to protest in Belem compared with previous summits in Azerbaijan, the UAE, and Egypt. Youth leader Ana Heloisa Alves called it the largest climate march she had ever joined and said the crowd could not be ignored.
Alves advocated for the Tapajos River, which the Brazilian government plans to develop commercially. Her group’s signs read, “The river is for the people.”
Advocates Push for Broader Participation
Pablo Neri, coordinator in Pará for the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra, said organizers should include more voices to reflect the climate movement’s shift toward popular involvement.
The conference continues through Friday, 21 November. Analysts and some participants do not expect major new agreements but hope for progress on previous commitments, including funding to help poorer countries adapt to climate change.
The United States skipped the talks. President Donald Trump has dismissed climate change as a scam and withdrew from the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aimed to limit global warming.
