At COP30, civil society stepped into real, not symbolic, leadership

December 15, 2025

COP30, held in 2025 in Belém, Brazil, marked a significant shift in climate conferences by centering the participation of grassroots organizations, Indigenous peoples, and traditional communities from the Amazon region. Unlike previous conferences that restricted civil society involvement through logistical barriers or government suppression, the Brazilian edition featured over 900 accredited Indigenous participants, a People's Summit coordinating social movements, and a 70,000-person Global Climate March demanding territorial and climate justice. Key outcomes included the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility to fund forest conservation and recognition in the final text that Indigenous territorial rights are essential to global climate strategy.

Who is affected

Indigenous peoples from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela, including the Marubo and Baré peoples
Quilombola communities (descendants of enslaved Africans in traditional territories)
Ribeirinhos (traditional riverine communities)
Urban collectives and grassroots organizations
Civil society delegates from the Global South
Social movements focused on climate and territorial justice
Over 900 Indigenous participants accredited for official negotiations
The 1.3 million residents of Belém, Pará
Countries with tropical forests (over 50 countries joining the TFFF)
Workers and local communities affected by fossil fuel transitions
More than 1,000 organizations worldwide that signed the People's Summit manifesto

What action is being taken

The People's Summit is coordinating political positions and building consensus around collective demands
Indigenous leaders are traveling by river (the Yaku Mama Flotilla traveled 3,000 kilometers over a month)
Approximately 70,000 people are marching in the Global Climate March through Belém
Representatives are delivering a letter outlining demands to COP officials and Brazilian government members
The Kuntari Katu Program is preparing Indigenous leaders for international conferences
Brazil is developing its own proposal through the BAM (Belém Action Mechanism) for transitioning to low-carbon economies
Indigenous peoples are implementing adaptation policies, strengthening food sovereignty, and protecting rivers with limited resources

Why it matters

This conference represents a fundamental shift in who has voice and legitimacy in global climate negotiations, moving from elite government-dominated spaces to including communities directly experiencing environmental impacts. The recognition that Indigenous territorial rights are part of global climate strategy establishes an important precedent that conservation cannot be separated from the sovereignty and governance systems of people who have protected these ecosystems for generations. The strong civil society presence challenges the previous pattern where fossil fuel interests and restrictive governments dominated climate conferences, creating space for demands around territorial justice, direct funding to communities, and systemic change that places nature at the center of development rather than treating it as separate. This matters because effective climate action requires legitimacy and implementation at the community level, not just international agreements.

What's next

Brazil will continue developing its proposal through the BAM (Belém Action Mechanism) to guide a just transition to low-carbon economies
Indigenous movements will maintain vigilance to ensure any mechanisms, funding, or agreements are anchored in Indigenous territorial sovereignty
The Tropical Forests Forever Facility will need to establish implementation mechanisms that address Indigenous leaders' concerns about resources reaching communities directly and respecting their governance systems
Communities will continue implementing their own adaptation plans, strengthening food sovereignty, and protecting territories

Read full article from source: Global Voices