Protests Surge as COP30 Climate Summit Begins in Brazil

Sat Nov 15 2025 19:35:06 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Following a passionate march, climate activists gather at the gates of COP30, demanding urgent action against fossil fuels and greater rights for indigenous communities.

In Belém, Brazil, thousands of climate protesters rallied against fossil fuel consumption during the COP30 climate talks. Armed with powerful symbols and chants, activists called for immediate action on climate change and recognition of indigenous rights in the Amazon. The event marked the first large protest since the lifting of restrictions on demonstrations at UN climate gatherings.

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, 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, 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.

It comes after protesters carrying signs broke through security lines at the summit on Tuesday, causing minor injuries to two security staff and some limited damage to the venue.

Meanwhile, negotiations continued at the COP30 talks on Saturday. Nearly 200 countries are meeting to try to make progress on tackling climate change.

Little progress was made in the first week of the talks, although some delegations say they are pushing for an agreed strategy to deliver on past promises to move away from using planet-warming fossil fuels.

President Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva of Brazil is hosting the talks and chose the city of Belém to put the world's focus on the Amazon and indigenous peoples.

However, shortly before the talks opened last week, his government granted permission to the Brazilian state oil company to explore for oil at the mouth of the Amazon.