Thousands of climate protesters on Saturday gathered at the gates of the COP30 climate talks taking place in Belém, Brazil, chanting and singing “Free the Amazon,” according to a BBC report.
The demonstrators carried three giant coffins inscribed with the words Oil, Coal, and Gas, flanked by two grim reapers.
Indigenous groups held signs reading “The answer is us”, as an inflatable elephant and anaconda weaved through the crowd under the hot sun.
This marks the first time since 2021 that protesters have been allowed to demonstrate outside the UN climate talks. The last three summits were held in countries that do not permit public protest.
“We are holding a funeral for fossil fuels,” the BBC reported, quoting Tuga Cíntia from the theatre group Hydra Dance at the Federal University of Pará.
“I’m here because enough is enough with COP meetings and theory. It’s time for us to actually act,” she said.
Indigenous communities, Brazilian youth groups, and activists from around the world joined the march in their thousands.
“Fossil fuels are still being burned. We know all too well what it’s like to live on the frontline of climate change,” said Brianna Fruean, a climate activist from Samoa, a low-lying island extremely vulnerable to climate impacts.
“We are here after so many COPs, marching for justice, for the end of fossil fuels,” said Ilan, from the non-governmental organisation 350.org, who lives in Brazil.
Some protesters carried signs reading “Demarcation now,” calling for Indigenous groups to be granted legal ownership of their territories.
Hundreds of Indigenous groups live in the Amazon and are widely regarded by experts as the best protectors of biodiversity and forests.
Smaller sister protests also took place around the world, including in the UK.
Security was tight at the COP30 venue, with police carrying riot shields guarding the entrance.
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