• Tens of thousands marched in Belem, Brazil during COP30, demanding urgent climate actions.
• The protest, dubbed the “Great People’s March,” was the first significant climate demonstration in years.
• Indigenous activists highlighted their struggles and called for more representation at the talks.
• Key issues discussed at COP30 include weak climate goals and increasing financial support for poorer countries.
• Despite protests, significant breakthroughs in negotiations remain elusive as the summit progresses.

On Saturday, November 15, tens of thousands of people participated in the "Great People's March" in Belem, Brazil, demanding urgent climate action as UN negotiations at COP30 reached their halfway point. The vibrant demonstration featured indigenous people and activists carrying a giant beach ball symbolizing the Earth and waving banners that read “Protected Amazon.” The protest coincided with calls for greater accountability from governments and fossil fuel industries, marking the first large-scale climate protest associated with a UN summit since COP26 held in Glasgow four years ago, according to SCMP and Reuters.

Protestors advocated for stronger societal measures to ensure the fulfillment of environmental commitments. "We are here to try to apply pressure so that countries fulfill their promises and we don't accept a regression," expressed Txai Surui, a prominent Indigenous leader. The protest also highlighted Indigenous rights and territorial protections amid ongoing climate crises affecting marginalized communities, reports The Jakarta Post and Le Monde.

At various moments during the week, Indigenous activists disrupted COP30 proceedings, including a significant clash with security personnel that occurred earlier in the week as they aimed to draw attention to their ongoing struggles in the Amazon. Protesters expressed their concerns over deforestation and environmental degradation with statements like, "Today we are witnessing a massacre as our forest is being destroyed," made by Benedito Huni Kuin of the Huni Kuin Indigenous group, according to India Times and Al Jazeera.

Inside the negotiation halls, discussions were reportedly stalled as countries grappled over contentious climate issues, including trade measures and financing for climate adaptation in poorer nations. Brazilian COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago acknowledged the lack of progress, urging members not to waste time on procedural delays as deadlines approach—specifically for a potential agreement by November 21. Key conflicts arise around demands for increased climate financing and fossil fuel phase-out roadmaps, as highlighted by Le Monde and Reuters.