First Week of Negotiations at COP30 Ends in Disappointment
From November 10 to November 21, 2025, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP30) is happening in Belém, in Brazil’s lower Amazon region. In addition to the heavy bureaucracy that has slowed down the entire process and delayed the adoption of necessary measures, the COP30 itself has caused widespread outrage among the stewards of these lands—the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon, who see zero results despite the significant number of participants. As in prior years, the negotiations are dominated by large delegations, staffed not only by ministers, their assistants, and negotiators, but also by representatives of businesses and carbon companies directly interested in a certain outcome of the negotiations. A stark fact is that 1 in every 25 participants at the COP30 is associated with the oil and gas sectors, and these lobbyists outnumber all of the delegations except the one from Brazil.
As promised by the Brazilian government, this COP on climate was supposed to be the "COP of truth,” with broad and widespread participation by Indigenous Peoples. Unfortunately, this has not happened yet. According to Earth.org, approximately 2,500 representatives of Indigenous Peoples from Brazil were expected to participate this year—a record number in the history of the UN climate process. However, despite all the government's assurances, only 14% (360 Indigenous Brazilians) received accreditation to visit the “Blue Zone” — a space secured for official negotiations and work on documents — the only place where Indigenous Peoples can effectively promote their rights and interests in future recommendations adopted by the Parties. Read more.En Español.
In Solidarity: Indigenous Peoples' Demonstrations and the Struggle for Participation at COP30
Cultural Survival calls on the COP Presidency to center Indigenous Peoples in climate decision-making as authentic rights-holders. We call on Brazil to immediately stop financing extraction on Indigenous lands without Free, Prior and Informed Consent and to honor territorial demarcations. Read more.En Español.
Can Brazil Lead Climate Action While Ignoring Its Own Indigenous Peoples? “The Price of Green” Exposes Hypocrisy at COP30
A joint report by A'uwẽ-Xavante, Jequitinhonha Valley Indigenous and Quilombola communities, and Cultural Survival poses a fundamental challenge to Brazil's climate credibility: Can a country claim climate leadership while systematically financing projects that violate its own Indigenous Peoples' rights? En Español.Em português.
International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change Statements
Cultural Survival participated in the Reparations Hub event organized by La Ruta del Clima, Oxfam, Heinrich Böll Foundation, and Cultural Survival, a powerful gathering that launched the Coalition for Loss and Damage Reparations. Cultural Survival contributed with a ceremonial artistic presentation by Djalma Ramalho (Aranã Caboclo), who, through their art and ceremony, powerfully conveyed the impacts of lithium mining in the Jequitinhonha Valley and the Cerrado Xavante territory. This space reinforced the urgent need to center Indigenous voices in climate reparations discussions, recognizing that the so-called "green transition" cannot continue to build sacrifice zones on our lands.
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Cultural Survival advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures and political resilience since 1972. We envision a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance.
