Belém, Brazil, March 2026 — The COP30 climate summit is drawing intense attention to the global climate crisis, but what happens outside the conference halls is equally telling.

Protests Intensify Outside the Summit

Thousands of climate protesters have been marching to the gates of COP30 in Brazil, bringing their message of urgency through the streets of host city Belém. Demonstrators are chanting and singing "free the Amazon" while carrying three enormous coffins labeled "Oil, Coal and Gas", symbolically flanked by two grim reapers representing the death of climate action.

Indigenous Voices Rise Up

Indigenous groups have displayed powerful signs reading "the answer is us" as inflatable figures of an elephant and anaconda weaved through the crowd under the hot sun. This messaging highlights a key issue: indigenous communities in the Amazon are regarded by experts as the best protectors of biodiversity and forests.

Breaking Through Security Lines

On Tuesday, the tension reached a new level as protesters broke through security lines at the summit. Two security staff sustained minor injuries and the venue sustained limited damage. Despite this, representation of indigenous voices has remained a central demand throughout the talks.

"Marching for the end of fossil fuels," says Ilan, from the non-governmental organization 350, who lives in Brazil. "Hundreds of indigenous groups live in the Amazon and are regarded by experts as the best protectors of biodiversity and forests." — Brianna Fruean, climate activist from Samoa

A Historic Opportunity

This is the first time since 2021 that protesters have been allowed to demonstrate outside the UN climate talks. The decision marks a significant shift, as representatives from nations around the world gather under tight security to negotiate what could be the most transformative climate agreement yet.

What Comes Next?

While the talks continue, the message from the streets is clear: climate inaction is no longer acceptable. Small sister protests have taken place around the world, including in the UK, showing that the global climate movement is growing stronger with each passing day.

As the summit reaches its critical moments, all eyes will be on whether world leaders can match the passion and urgency demonstrated by the thousands marching in the rainforests outside.