Cop30 brings historic indigenous participation but mixed results for amazon communities

Brazil’s COP30 climate summit in Belém promised to be a groundbreaking moment for Indigenous voices, billing itself as both the “Indigenous COP” and “Amazonian COP.” Located at the mouth of the Amazon River, Belém served as a symbolic gateway to a region home to over one million Indigenous people, including communities living in voluntary isolation. The conference delivered on its promise of unprecedented Indigenous participation, with more than 900 Indigenous representatives gaining formal access to UN climate negotiations—a historic first for communities long excluded from global climate discussions.

The summit produced tangible wins alongside familiar frustrations. Brazil announced progress on demarcating 10 Indigenous territories, while eleven countries—including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia, and several African nations—committed to expanding land tenure rights for Indigenous peoples and local communities by roughly 80 million hectares by 2030. Indonesia’s main Indigenous alliance, AMAN, welcomed the pledge while pressing Jakarta to fulfill its specific promise to recognize 1.4 million hectares of customary forests through official decrees.

For many Indigenous delegates, the gathering fostered crucial connections with communities facing similar environmental threats worldwide. The shared solidarity provided hope amid ongoing challenges, as Indigenous groups continue fighting for recognition of their role as the Amazon’s most effective guardians. While tensions and disappointments marked parts of the summit, the historic level of Indigenous participation and concrete land tenure commitments represent meaningful steps forward in centering Indigenous voices in global climate action.