As negotiations at Bonn enter their most critical phase, activists from across Latin America and Indigenous communities staged a powerful banner action today, sending a clear message to COP leaders: “Renewables in. Fossils out. Indigenous leadership and traditional communities first.”
The action served as a defiant stand for climate justice and a demand for bold political will, featuring a bold, horizontal banner held by dozens of climate justice advocates while speakers delivered powerful statements. These included demanding negotiators commit to a full, fair and funded phase-out of fossil fuels, a tripling of renewable energy capacity, and the recognition and inclusion of Indigenous and traditional communities’ leadership in all aspects of climate decision-making.
While a recent letter from the COP30 Presidency outlined intentions for process reform, campaigners are emphasising that what’s needed now is substantive reform rooted in urgency, ambition, and justice.
Chief Ninawá Inu Huni Kui says: “We demand and call on all institutions, governments and international organisations to recognise that there will be no solution to the climate crisis without the direct and effective presence of Indigenous peoples and local communities at the decision-making tables.
“Therefore, we call on all indigenous and local communities to organise themselves and strengthen their strategies to firmly and legitimately occupy all the seats at the tables of world leaders. We are not here to ask for permission; we are here to guide the way and ensure that decisions made to address climate change are guided by ancestral wisdom and a commitment to all forms of life.”
Alia Kajee, Global Campaigner, 350.org, says: “As one of the biggest democracies in the world, the home of the Rio Convention, we look to COP30 to lead with accountability and courage honouring all people and those who have the moral authority over climate. The time is now.
“We stand in solidarity with Indigenous and traditional communities; they are not just passive stakeholders – they are rights-holders. Their voices must not only be heard but heeded. Their leadership must shape the agenda – and not from the sidelines. The world is watching. And across the globe, people are rising.”
Abel Rodrigues, Member of Fridays For Future Brazil, says: “Oil won’t bring money to our people. They are promoting the narrative that we need oil in Amazonia for economic development. This is not true. It will result in the collapse of our environment and our people won’t see any of this money. We should continue focusing on renewables and be an international example to keep us all within 1.5°C.”
Francisco Kelvim, Coordinator for the Movement of People Affected by Dams and representative of the People’s Summit, says: “We’re building the Peoples’ Summit, an autonomous and independent process of mobilising peoples to change climate history at COP30. We will only confront the economic interests of the fossil industry with pressure and mobilisation of the peoples, which is why we have now more than 800 organisations around the world building that process.”