By Faridat Salifu
As the G20 Summit approaches, the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) staged a poignant demonstration on Saturday, November 16 to call out the lack of decisive action by the world’s wealthiest nations on the climate crisis.
The protest, held against the backdrop of Rio’s iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, symbolised the urgency of the issue with images of leaders from major greenhouse gas emitters China, the United States, India, the European Union, Russia, and Japan were submerged in water to underscore the argument that climate inaction is rooted in a failure of global leadership.
This demonstration comes just two days before the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro and marks the launch of Indigenous mobilisation towards next year’s COP30 climate conference, which Brazil will host.
The APIB has called for the recognition of Indigenous land demarcation as a critical climate policy, asserting their central role in shaping decisions about the planet’s future.
In a strongly worded statement, the Indigenous movement urged governments to act decisively to prevent “the imminent collapse of living conditions worldwide.”
They warned that hollow promises and inadequate targets would no longer be tolerated.
“We have never ceased to defend life, and we will not be lost in empty discussions and hollow commitments,” the statement read, adding, “From now on, we will take the lead in a global mobilisation for life on the planet.”
Their campaign: “We Are the Answer,” highlights the urgency of the situation. With February marking the deadline for updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), APIB, alongside organisations like 350.org and ClimaInfo, stressed that the responsibility for transformative change rests squarely with the G20 nations.
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Developing countries, excluding China, will require $2.4 trillion annually by 2030 to address the climate crisis, according to a UN-affiliated report. These funds would cover efforts such as renewable energy transitions, nature conservation, and climate adaptation.
However, recent international failures have cast doubt on global commitment. October’s Biodiversity COP fell short of securing meaningful financial pledges, and fossil fuel subsidies, which reached $7 trillion in 2022, continue to overshadow investments in climate solutions.
“It is urgent to correct this policy that prioritises corporate profits over community protection,” said Dinaman Tuxá, executive coordinator of APIB. “The richest nations must take responsibility and fund climate solutions for those who are on the front lines of the crisis.”
At COP26 in 2021, wealthy nations promised $1.7 billion to support Indigenous communities, but only 7% of those funds have reached Indigenous organisations directly. Leaders like Kleber Karipuna, APIB’s executive coordinator, argue this is emblematic of a deeper issue.
“The money exists, but it is not going where it should,” Karipuna said. “Enough of passing the problem onto the next generation.
We need political courage, especially from the wealthiest nations, to end fossil fuel dependence, accelerate a fair transition, and fund those who have done the most to address the climate crisis. We are the true climate authorities.”
As the host of COP30, Brazil has a unique opportunity to lead by example.
APIB’s protest sends a clear message to the G20 and beyond: the time for symbolic gestures has passed.
With G20 nations accounting for 80 percent of global emissions, Indigenous leaders insist that true progress will require their voices and solutions to be at the forefront.
