Climate summit in Belém: protests and deadlock in crucial negotiations

Climate summit in Belém: protests and deadlock in crucial negotiations

Today, November 15, 2025, international negotiations at the UN climate summit in Belém are facing a critical phase. Many environmental organizations have a mixed assessment after the first week of COP30, noting that there is no progress in the negotiations. Civil society is calling for a fundamental turnaround in climate and forest protection. Greenpeace expresses sharp criticism of the standstill in negotiations and demands clear commitments to combat deforestation.

A new tropical forest fund to be launched at this summit is being welcomed by the organizations as an important step in combating deforestation. However, the obligation for the states to pay remains voluntary, which calls into question its effectiveness. Jasmin Duregger, climate expert at Greenpeace Austria, calls for more speed in the negotiations in order to achieve the desired goal of a 1.5 degree action plan that focuses on climate and forest protection.

Protests and resistance

The negotiations are accompanied by heavy protests. Indigenous groups and civil society organizations are active and demanding climate justice and the protection of their territories. A boat protest with over 200 ships, including the Greenpeace flagship “Rainbow Warrior,” was particularly impressive. In addition, the “People's Summit” is taking place parallel to the UN Climate Change Conference, with hundreds of organizations taking part.

A large protest march on Saturday, consisting of thousands of indigenous people and climate activists, is moving through the center of Belém. These demonstrations highlight the pressure that indigenous activists are putting on governments to protect nature and the climate. Intrusive blockades in front of the main entrance to the conference by indigenous people underline the seriousness of their demands.

Focus on the tropical forest fund

A central point in the negotiations is the Tropical Forest Fund (TFFF), which is intended to reward tropical forest countries for reducing deforestation rates. The Tropical Forest Fund has the potential to coordinate deforestation-related measures in Brazil and other countries. However, Greenpeace points out that people often make money by destroying forests for short-term profits. Such practices include felling trees, converting forests into plantations, and clearing land for agricultural land.

The importance of intact rainforests cannot be overemphasized. They not only store CO₂, regulate the climate and ensure rainfall, but they are also crucial for food security and the stability of the regions. According to the WWF, rainforests are home to around two thirds of the world's biodiversity and are therefore essential for the survival of many species and the balance of ecosystems.

Political commitments and outlook

Austria's Climate Minister Norbert Totschnig will be in Belém for the second week of negotiations and faces intense criticism, particularly from Greenpeace, which accuses him of cutting international climate finance. An appeal is also being made to him to give up the blockade on the EU deforestation regulation. In addition, environmental organizations are demanding a clear financial commitment from Germany to support the tropical forest fund in order to underpin global demands for climate and biodiversity protection.

The COP30 negotiations are scheduled for the next few days, and civil society hopes for an early agreement that focuses on both climate protection and the preservation of valuable rainforests. The commitment of the international community is crucial to jointly combat the threat of climate change.

For more information, see the articles from vienna.at, Greenpeace and WWF.