Indigenous protesters clashed with security guards at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, after storming the main entrance to demand stronger climate action and protection of the Amazon rainforest.
The confrontation took place on Tuesday evening outside the United Nations compound, where thousands of international delegates are attending the global climate talks. Dozens of men and women, some wearing traditional feathered headdresses, tried to force their way through metal detectors and into the Blue Zone, the restricted area of the summit.
Security personnel blocked the entrance with tables and pushed back the crowd. One guard was seen being taken away in a wheelchair while clutching his stomach.
Many demonstrators carried flags and banners calling for land rights and forest protection. Signs read “Our land is not for sale.” Others wore T-shirts with the word “Juntos,” meaning “Together.”
“We can’t eat money,” said Nato, an Indigenous leader from the Tupinamba community. “We want our lands free from agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners and illegal loggers.”
The clash ended after security forces regained control and protesters dispersed. Delegates were told to remain inside until the area was cleared. A United Nations spokesperson confirmed minor injuries to two security guards and minor damage to the venue.
“Brazilian and UN security personnel took protective actions to secure the venue, following all established protocols,” the spokesperson said. “The venue is fully secured, and COP negotiations continue.”
Witnesses said tensions rose as Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists approached the conference center, chanting, “They cannot decide for us without us.” Some used plastic bins near the security checkpoint to block guards.
Agustín Ocaña from the Global Youth Coalition said the frustration stemmed from a lack of real participation for Indigenous communities in the talks. “They were not doing this because they were bad people. They’re desperate, trying to protect their land and the river,” he said.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called Indigenous people central to climate policy discussions. Earlier this week, dozens of Indigenous leaders arrived by boat to join the summit and press for greater control over forest management.
Respected Indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire, known as Chief Raoni, said many communities are angered by ongoing industrial projects in the Amazon. He urged Brazil to give native peoples more power in conservation efforts.
The COP30 summit, hosted in the Amazon for the first time, has seen growing participation from Indigenous groups and activists. Until Tuesday, demonstrations had been peaceful. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between global climate negotiations and the local communities most affected by deforestation and resource extraction.
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