Indigenous lands must be recognised as part of climate policy, says Brazilian minister

"Countries must recognise the demarcation of Indigenous lands as a key component of tackling the climate crisis, and civil society must help in the defence of such lands against mining interests, Brazil's minister for Indigenous peoples has said. Sonia Guajajara, a longtime Indigenous activist before being appointed a minister by President Lula da Silva, said: [Among the goals of the Cop30 summit is] a request that countries recognise the demarcation of Indigenous lands as climate policy."

"At Cop30 she put faith in the debates taking place within traditional communities, Afro-descendants, family farmers and Indigenous peoples. This, she said, can generate recommendations for the final text of this conference. The idea would be that this is then picked up as a theme for future Cops. Sonia Guajajara says Cop30 could help the Amazon and its peoples by means of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility."

"Guajajara was speaking to the Guardian before peaceful protests outside the conference centre in Belem on Friday morning by Indigenous people brought the Cop30 talks to a brief halt. Protesters gathered outside the entrance, peacefully blocking the way for delegates. After only about two hours of mild disruption, though with a heavy police and military presence, during which delegates had to use a side entrance, entry to the conference resumed as normal."

"Guajajara warned that countries must maintain the rights of Indigenous people, while mining interests seek to exploit the critical minerals necessary to manufacture the renewable energy and other low-carbon equipment needed to solve the climate crisis. The Tapajos and many other of the Amazon's great rivers have been contaminated by the mercury used in gold extraction. Moves are under way to open up Yanomami territory the largest Indigenous lands in Brazil to industrial mining."

Countries must recognise demarcation of Indigenous lands as central climate policy and civil society must help defend those lands from mining interests. Cop30 seeks recognition of Indigenous land demarcation in climate policy and recommendations from traditional communities, Afro-descendants, family farmers and Indigenous peoples. Those recommendations can shape the final text and influence future COPs, including support through the Tropical Forest Forever Facility for the Amazon. Peaceful Indigenous protests briefly halted talks in Belem, prompting heightened security before entry resumed. Mining interests threaten Indigenous rights and contaminate rivers with mercury from gold extraction, while plans target Yanomami territory.

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