Protesters storm COP30, Newsom slams Trump’s absence
Leonardo Benassatto, Sergio Queiroz and Lisandra Paraguassu |
Dozens of Indigenous protesters have forced their way into the COP30 climate summit venue and clashed with security guards at the entrance.
Shouting angrily, the protesters demanded access to the UN compound where thousands of delegates from countries around the world are attending this year’s UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil.
Some waved flags with slogans calling for land rights or carried signs saying “our land is not for sale.”
An Indigenous leader from the Tupinamba community near the lower reaches of the Tapajos River in Brazil told Reuters that they were upset about ongoing development in the forest.
“We can’t eat money,” said Gilmar, who uses only one name.
“We want our lands free from agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners and illegal loggers.”
Security guards pushed the protesters back and used tables to barricade the entrance. A Reuters witness saw one security guard being rushed away in a wheelchair while clutching his stomach.
Another guard with a fresh cut above his eye told Reuters he had been hit in the head by a heavy drumstick thrown from the crowd. Security confiscated several batons.
The protesters dispersed shortly after the clash. They had been in a group of hundreds who marched to the venue.
Within the compound, the United Nations is responsible for security.
“Earlier this evening, a group of protesters breached security barriers at the main entrance to the COP, causing minor injuries to two security staff, and minor damage to the venue,” a UN spokesperson said in a statement.
“Brazilian and UN security personnel took protective actions to secure the venue, following all established security protocols. Brazilian and UN authorities are investigating the incident. The venue is fully secured, and COP negotiations continue.”
Separately, California Governor Gavin Newsom assured an audience at the summit that his US state would continue to prioritise green technology, while blasting President Donald Trump’s “dumb” decision to reverse the government’s course on climate action.
Newsom, widely considered a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, sounded alarm bells over Trump’s climate policies.
“I come here with humility, coming from the United States. I’m very mindful that the Trump administration has abandoned any sense of duty, responsibility or leadership as it relates to the issues that bring us all here together,” he said.
“I’m here because I don’t want the United States of America to be a footnote at this conference, and I want you to know that we recognise our responsibility, and we recognise our opportunity.”
Newsom took every opportunity to slam Trump’s attacks on the fast-growing clean energy economy.
He said Republicans were ceding the fast-growth market to China, which “will dominate in the next great global industry.”
“The United States of America is as dumb as we want to be on this topic, but the state of California is not. And so we are going to assert ourselves, we’re going to lean in, and we are going to compete in this space.”
Trump has falsely dismissed the issue of climate change as a “hoax” and battled to boost global use of polluting fossil fuels. Washington has conspicuously snubbed the summit.
Reuters
