Belém, Brazil – The People’s March for Climate at COP30 in Belém do Pará saw over 50,000 participants, including a notable presence of activists from Pacific Island nations. This powerful demonstration brought together Indigenous communities from Latin America and global environmental advocates, representing over 100 organizations united by a common goal: to combat climate change, particularly emphasizing the vital role of voices from the Global South.
The march featured a vibrant array of art and performance designed to capture attention and provoke thought. Participants showcased large coffins symbolizing the detrimental effects of the fossil fuel industry, alongside impressive models of suns, wind turbines, and performers clad as jaguars. These striking images served to underscore the urgent need to conclude the fossil fuel era and highlighted the ongoing environmental crises impacting the Amazon and Pacific regions.
Activists voiced a unified message about their interconnected struggles. Fenton Lutunatabua, the Pacific Team Lead for 350.org, remarked, “Today the strength of the people was on display. While leaders negotiate our lives at COP30, we take to the streets to remind them that we are watching and we demand action, not empty promises.” He pointed to the transnational impacts of fossil fuel exploration that affect both Amazonian communities and Pacific Islanders.
Joining Lutunatabua, Suluafi Brianna Fruean, a Pacific Council Elder, emphasized the strength that grows from grassroots efforts, advocating for genuine ambition and justice. Grace Malie, a Tuvaluan climate activist, highlighted the critical importance of unity in these actions, expressing hope that their collective efforts would lead to tangible commitments to climate justice.
The march significantly influenced the narrative of COP30, sending a resounding call for action against fossil fuel exploration in the Amazon and beyond. This demonstration represented a pivotal moment in the larger global climate discourse, reinforcing the necessity for international solidarity in the fight against climate change.
In previous gatherings, Indigenous leaders from both Latin America and the Pacific had convened to voice their demands for climate justice and increased recognition in global negotiations. They emphasized the crucial need to empower Indigenous communities and include their perspectives in climate discussions, a sentiment echoed throughout the People’s March for Climate.
With growing demands for a transition away from fossil fuel reliance, activists are optimistic that COP30 will act as a catalyst for significant climate action, aiming to forge a sustainable future that respects both Indigenous rights and global climate commitments. The collective message from the march participants reflects a unified call for accountability and transformative action in the ongoing challenge of climate change.