This year the presence of indigenous peoples at the COP30, which will take place in Brazil, will be strongly felt.
That’s what they intend and from now on, although separated by thousands of kilometers, they seek to unite forces and build alliances. This week, leaders from Oceania and Latin America forged an unexpected alliance.
## Indigenous Peoples at COP30: the Alliance
Separated by more than 11,000 kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, Latin American and Oceanic indigenous peoples sealed an unexpected alliance this week in Brazil in view of COP30. The meeting will be in November and they are already preparing.
Delegations from Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and American Samoa traveled to Brasilia to participate in the Campamento Tierra Libre, the largest annual indigenous gathering in Brazil. Representatives from all over America usually attend.
This year, the meeting gained special relevance due to COP30, which will be held in November in the same country.
Concerned about the global warming to which they are especially vulnerable, indigenous peoples from other parts of the world joined this edition of the camp with the goal of joining forces.
“Nacewa, a leader of the iTaukei people of Fiji, expressed to AFP, “I left home on Friday and arrived here on Sunday. It has been a long and exhausting journey.”
He took three connecting flights to attend the camp and join the other 8000 indigenous people who came from the southern tip of Brazil to Canada, according to the organizers.
## Politically United
They demand to have the same weight as heads of state in the negotiations of the UN COP30, which will take place between November 10 and 21 in the Amazon city of Belém.
Indigenous lands are considered by specialists as an essential bulwark against global warming due to their protection of forests and natural resources.
For Nacewa, the meeting in Brasilia has similarities with the Festival of Pacific Arts, with one difference. “Here they are more politically aligned and ready for battle. In our land, we gather more to showcase our cultures and values,” he said.
The lawyer Dinaman Tuxá, coordinator of APIB, the largest organization of indigenous peoples in Brazil, highlighted to the same media the importance of working together with the peoples of Oceania.
Moreover, in 2026, it could host COP31, as Australia and a group of Pacific islands submitted their candidacy. They want “continuity in addressing environmental issues” between COP30 and COP31.
One of the main points of agreement is their opposition to the exploitation of fossil fuels, the main cause of global warming and whose principle for a progressive phase-out was adopted in COP28.
## The Strong Demand from Leaders
“We demand that leaders of indigenous and local communities have the same voice and power as heads of state at COP30, with the same legitimacy, decision-making power, and respect as country representations,” said Brazilian indigenous chief Alana Manchineri this week.
It was in a joint statement from the attending peoples. They also demanded “direct funding” to preserve nature and “compensation for the damage” they suffer.
**[Subscribe to our YouTube channel!](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrYLIWysAyv4m833zGAQ02g)**
