Belem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Climate protestors are expected to rally through Belem’s streets on Saturday, calling for “real solutions” to human-caused global warming as the Brazilian city hosts this year’s UN climate talks, COP30.
As reported by AFP, organisers dubbed it the “Great People’s March,” as the rally takes place halfway through the controversial COP30 negotiations. It follows two Indigenous-led protests that disrupted the proceedings earlier in the week.
Marchers, including Indigenous peoples, fishers, youth, and workers, will gather at a local market at 7:30 am (1030 GMT). They will walk roughly 4.5 kilometres, stopping a few blocks short of the COP30 site.
What demands are driving the great people’s march at COP30?
Their demands include “reparations” for damage caused by corporations and governments, especially to marginalised communities. “
Historically, people build the real solutions, so the march aims to denounce the climate crisis but also to present our proposals to the world,”
Iury Paulino, a member of the march’s coordination team and the Movement of People Affected by Dams, told AFP.
On Tuesday, Indigenous protesters entered the Parque da Cidade, the COP30 compound located on the site of a former airport. They clashed with security personnel, and some of the security staff suffered minor injuries.
On Friday, dozens of Indigenous protesters blocked the entrance for about two hours to highlight their struggles in the Amazon. This led to high-level interventions to ease the situation.
How is Brazil balancing competing demands in COP30 negotiations?
As reported, at the end of the first week of negotiations, the Brazilian presidency of COP30 is expected to present its strategy on Saturday for balancing countries’ demands. The main issues include how to tackle weak climate goals and how to boost financial support from wealthy to poorer countries. This support is crucial for building resilience against a warming world and for shifting to low-emission economies.
Trade barriers, like Europe’s carbon border tax, have become a major point of contention. The question of whether to establish timelines and targets for moving away from fossil fuels is also a significant issue.
How do COP30 protests compare with restrictions seen at COP29?
Similarly, COP29 took place in Azerbaijan in November 2024. It also experienced protests and strong criticism over the choice of host country and how the conference was managed. Activists and civil society groups faced harsh restrictions. More than two dozen journalists and activists were arrested before the summit. Protests inside the conference were short, limited, and quickly removed. According to reports, there was very little visible activism outside the venue.
