Dozens of Indigenous demonstrators clashed with security forces outside the main entrance of the COP30 climate summit on Tuesday, demanding stronger commitments to forest protection and land rights.
Witnesses said more than a hundred Indigenous protesters gathered in front of the conference venue, calling for climate action and the preservation of ancestral lands. The protesters broke through a security barrier at the main gate, leading to brief scuffles with guards.
Chanting slogans and carrying placards reading “Our land is not for sale,” demonstrators insisted on greater recognition of Indigenous territorial rights. “We want to keep our land free from agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal mining, and logging,” said Nato, a leader of the local Tupinambá community in Belém.
Security personnel eventually pushed the protesters back beyond the entrance and erected makeshift barricades using tables. Two security guards sustained minor injuries after being struck by sticks or drum poles thrown from the crowd, officials said. Several heavy wooden staffs were later seized.
A spokesperson for COP30’s security operations confirmed the incident, telling reporters: “Earlier this evening, a group of demonstrators broke through the main entrance barriers, causing minor injuries to two security personnel and slight damage to property. Brazilian and UN security teams followed established protocols and secured the venue. The site is now fully protected, and the COP negotiations are continuing as planned.”
The main entrance remained closed for repairs and is expected to reopen Wednesday morning, according to the UN Climate Secretariat.
Earlier in the week, several Indigenous leaders arrived by boat to attend side discussions at the summit, where they expressed frustration over ongoing industrial and development projects in forest regions. “Many of our people are angry about how the forests are being exploited,” said Raoni Metuktire, a prominent Indigenous leader.
In response to the disturbance, authorities have increased security for delegates and journalists attending the conference.