COP30 draws 1.6 thousand indigenous people from nine countries
Indigenous people from nine countries in the Amazon basin are in the city of Belém to participate in the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP30. The delegation, composed of approximately 1,600 leaders, demands that indigenous territories be recognized as part of climate policy, real participation in decision-making spaces, financing for communities that keep the forest standing, and protection for defenders of these populations.
Indigenous territories are the most well-preserved areas of the Amazon and function as large carbon sinks. But indigenous people report they suffer different types of pressure in their communities, including from mining and agriculture. Furthermore, they claim to be the first to feel the impacts of the climate crisis, such as prolonged droughts and floods.
“Without territory, there is no life, no climate, and no future. Indigenous territorial rights must be recognized as climate policy, because it is our preserved and protected lands, with the forest standing, that guarantee the conservation of biodiversity and the climate balance of the planet,” said Toya Manchineri, head of the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB).
Twenty-eight indigenous organizations from the nine Amazon countries have developed their own nationally determined contributions (NDCs) – the goals and commitments made by the parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The indigenous NDCs list their demands, calling for priority recognition of territories – including those of uncontacted peoples – direct access to resources, financial autonomy, protection of defenders, the appreciation of traditional knowledge, and exploitation-free zones.
“We believe that COP30 is a unique opportunity for countries to make serious and ambitious commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to concrete strategies for climate mitigation and adaptation. But it is important to emphasize that our focus is not only on COP30, but rather on a process that should extend to future conferences and other global decision-making forums – always listening to our voice, the voice of indigenous peoples,” Toya Manchineri declared.
Program
The COIAB network will have a calendar of events in the Blue and Green zones of the conference, as well as at the People’s Summit in the COP Village and other demonstrations that will take place during the event. On November 17, there will be a March of Indigenous Peoples through the streets of Belém.
