Masks of Chico Mendes and Chief Raoni. Allegory of boitatá. Sound cars alternating between political speeches, carimbó and brega rhythms. The World Climate March took over the streets of Belém this Saturday (15th) with an expressive sample of the cultural and social diversity of the Amazonian people.
According to the organizers, at least 70 thousand people were present at the demonstration, which went from Mercado de São Brás, in the historic center, to Aldeia Cabana. A journey of approximately 4.5 km made under a strong sun of 35°C. Nothing more representative for an act that fears the lack of effective decisions to combat the climate emergency at the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30).
The march was organized by members of the Cúpula dos Povos and COP das Baixadas, and had the participation of representatives of organizations from all continents, traditional peoples and communities from Pará.
“We are here with all the people of the world and social movements to raise a warning about the threats and attacks on territories, and against defenders of human rights and the environment. We need official bodies and the UN to recognize that, in order to have a just transition, it is necessary to protect those who protect the forest”, said Darcy Frigo, from the Brazilian Committee of Human Rights Defenders (CBDDH) and the political commission of the People’s Summit.
“We want to express all the demands that have emerged during the People’s Summit. We want to denounce false solutions to climate change, such as financing funds for forests. We ask not to explore oil in the Amazon and not to proliferate fossil fuels throughout the world”, said Eduardo Giesen, coordinator in Latin America of the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice.
Belém (PA), 11/14/2025 – Global March for Climate, parallel event to COP30. Photo: Bruno Peres/Agência Brasil
The Ministers of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, and Indigenous Peoples, Sonia Guajajara, climbed into the main car of the march to express support for the climate action. Marina highlighted the more popular nature of the COP held in Brazil.
“After other COPs, in which social demonstrations took place only within official UN spaces, in Brazil, in the Global South, in a consolidated democracy, we can occupy the streets. COP30 allows the meeting of the peripheries, the waters, the cities, the fields, the forests. Places that face climate change. Despite our challenges and contradictions, we have to map the path to a just transition and end dependence on fossil fuels”, said Marina.
Cultural strength
One of the examples of local traditions of culture and social organization present at the event in Belém was Arraial do Pavulagem, a group that promotes popular music from Pará and the Amazon, mixing regional elements. Pavulagem coordinator, Júnior Soares, understands that it is impossible to talk about urban cultural traditions without addressing climate extremes.
“We have been building this group and street performances in the Belém region for 38 years. And the environmental conditions of the place where we live have always been important to us. We are marching with a representation of our players, joining this fight to ask for a special look at the world for the Amazon and for the people who live here”, said Soares.
Marciele Albuquerque, Munduruku indigenous person, activist and cunhã-poranga of Boi Caprichoso, took to the streets to defend the demarcation of traditional peoples’ lands as a climate policy.
“The march is central to our demands, because it has people, voices and languages from all over the world. A very large cultural diversity to show our strength both on the streets and to the world. We are at the center of all discussions at COP30 here in Belém, defending the people who experience the Amazon and who pay for the climate consequences for which they are not responsible”, said Marciele.
NDuring this Saturday’s march, attention was drawn to a 30-meter snake, with the phrase: “Direct financing for those who take care of the forest”. The sculpture is the result of collective work by 16 artists from Santarém, created in 15 days of production, and supported by the Amazônia de Pé movement. Built in partnership with the Peoples’ Climate Alliance, the work supports the “A gente cobra” campaign, which demands direct financing for populations living in the Amazon forest.
Belém (PA), 11/14/2025 – Global March for Climate, parallel event to COP30. Photo: Bruno Peres/Agência Brasil
Social movements
The Homeless Workers Movement (MTST) brought the social demand for housing, related to climate problems. According to Rud Rafael, national coordinator of the MTST, the environmental issue has become increasingly central to the movement’s agenda.
“There is no way to think more about the issue of housing, without thinking about the environmental issue. We had in Rio Grande do Sul, for example, an extreme weather event that impacted more than 600 thousand people. There is no way to think about the issue of housing anymore just because of the housing deficit, when each extreme weather event generates thousands and, sometimes, millions of people impacted. The idea is to put the periphery at the center of the solutions”, said Rud.
The event included protesters from different international organizations. Kwami Kpondzo, from Togo, Africa, came as a representative of the Global Forest Coalition, and defended the union of all popular movements as a way of dealing with global environmental problems.
“We are here to support people impacted by climate change, forest degradation, mining, deforestation. We want to take a stand in the march against capitalism and colonialism. We are very happy because people together have power and are capable of changing this system that destroys our planet”, said Kpondzo.
