Canopy Tree Project
The Amazon Takes the Mic: Indigenous Power Reshapes COP30
November 18, 2025
On November 9th, a flotilla with dozens of Indigenous leaders arrived in Belém, Brazil for COP30, after sailing from the Andes to Brazil. A major goal of these leaders was to gain a larger role in the management of Indigenous territories as many face damage from climate change and human activities like mining and oil drilling.
This year’s COP is being called the “Forest COP,” not only because it is being held in the Amazon rainforest, but because of an anticipated focus on forest and biodiversity protection. So it is not surprising that Indigenous leaders are making their voices louder.
Indigenous peoples are not just environmental defenders. They are guardians of ancient cultures, bearers of knowledge, ways of life and values that ensure the continuity of forests, rivers, and biodiversity.
Sonia Guajajara, the Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil
COP, hosted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is an annual meeting intended to allow countries, non-governmental organizations, and other parties to meet to review progress on climate change mitigation and negotiating agreements on how to address climate change.
COP30 is being hosted in Belém, Brazil, a city in the Amazon rainforest which is home to hundreds of Indigenous communities. A report released last week by Earth Insight and the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, outlines that one-third of the Amazon rainforest is occupied by Indigenous or local communities. The report outlines that about 17% of their territory is now facing encroachment by oil and gas drilling as well as mining and logging concessions.
It’s a similar situation in Africa’s Congo Basin where fossil fuel companies are vying to explore and drill in the rainforest. Journalist Josephine Mould talks about her reporting on a new EDO series, made in partnership with the Pulitzer Center and hosted by The Guardian’s Tracy McVeigh, called Underreported Earth: “Tree Tales”.
Indigenous territories are home to almost 40% of the world’s forests, and these forests consistently face lower deforestation rates than state protected areas. As of 2023, 80% of the remaining biodiversity in the world is protected by Indigenous communities.
Indigenous peoples around the world are often the first to experience the impacts of climate change as they have strong ties to the environment and its natural resources. Journalist Ana Bottalo discovered in her reporting that the local and Indigenous communities of Brazil’s mangroves are the ones protecting it, and most vocally championing its importance.
As the climate crisis deepens and land degradation worsens, the full inclusion of Indigenous voices at global climate summits is no longer optional—it’s essential.
COP30 and Indigenous Voices: Need to Be Heard
The first COP meeting took place in Berlin, Germany in 1995. Indigenous Peoples did attend, and their knowledge was acknowledged as important for understanding and adapting to climate change. However, they participated only as observers, and historically they have not been granted real decision-making power in the official negotiations.
In order to support a larger presence of Indigenous Peoples, the COP30 Presidency established the Círculo dos Povos (Circle of Peoples) to ensure the representation of Indigenous peoples and local communities in COP30 processes. Additionally, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples implemented the Kuntari Katu Program, a training course to prepare Indigenous leaders for climate negotiations.
Not everything has to revolve around money, Mother Earth isn’t a business.
Lucia Ixchiu, an Indigenous K’iche from Guatemala
COP30 is expected to have the largest Indigenous participation in the history of the conference. Sonia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples, estimated that COP30 would see 3,000 members of Indigenous peoples from around the world participating in debates; 1,000 of which are anticipated to take part in official negotiations. 500 will be from Brazil, and 500 will be from other countries. For reference, the previous record for Indigenous participation at a COP was at COP28 in Dubai, with 350 people present.
The president of this year’s COP, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, has emphasized the significance of including Indigenous communities and other groups that have been historically marginalized from global economic and political processes.
But despite this increased presence, frustrations remain. On November 14, Indigenous groups from the Munduruku people blockaded the main entrance to the COP30 venue, demanding a meeting with Brazil’s President Lula—and drawing attention to the deep disconnect between those most affected by Amazon destruction and the political elite inside.
Security forces, including military and riot police, were deployed to control the protest. Indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire warned that continued Amazon destruction would have “chaos” for the planet.
Key Agendas and Demands
With the participation of Indigenous Peoples, contribute to negotiations surrounding climate change adaptation and mitigation? On November 6, the COP30 World Leaders Summit had multiple countries make commitments to supporting land rights and financing to Indigenous Peoples, local, and Afro-descendant communities; part of these commitments involved recognizing 395 million acres of land and financing $1.8 billion towards strengthening land rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Last week, countries committed over 5.5 billion USD to the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), intended to protect and restore tropical forests. In addition to this large sum of money, the TFFF will allocate at least 20% of resources to Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
A major demand to be addressed at COP30 is Indigenous land demarcation and financing for climate mitigation tools. Land demarcation is the process of making land formally protected and owned by Indigenous Peoples through a formal legal land tenure process. In Brazil alone, there are 107 Indigenous Lands waiting for the finalization to be demarcated.
We demand demarcation [of Indigenous territories] as a climate goal, not only for Brazil’s NDC, but also for [other] countries to commit to supporting politically and financially…The demarcation of Indigenous lands as a concrete climate goal to combat global warming.
Dinaman Tuxá, executive coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil
If you want to learn more about why forests matter – please watch our brand new series UNDERREPORTED EARTH – “TREE TALES”– IG TRAIL.
Tracy McVeigh from The Guardian speaks with three top investigative journalists about their groundbreaking reporting: Elisangela Mendonça uncovers how the Amazon rainforest is being threatened by the collagen industry. Josephine Moulds takes us into the Congo Basin, where fossil fuel auctions are endangering one of the world’s most vital forest ecosystems. Ana Bottallo travels deep into the Amazonian mangroves to witness how local communities fought — to have their voices heard. The episodes go live November 17/18th/19th across EARTHDAY.ORG social media on Facebook: Ep.1, Ep.2, Ep.3 and YouTube: Ep.1, Ep.2, Ep.3.
EARTHDAY.ORG’s Canopy Tree Project supports reforestation through close collaboration with local communities. With COP30 negotiations occurring over this next week, consider supporting initiatives like the Canopy Tree Project to supplement the international agreements being made to protect our forests.
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