Indigenous Collective Conducts Climate Demonstration by Immersing Oversized Depictions of G20 Leaders’ Faces
### The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) Urges Climate Action Before G20 Summit
In a remarkable protest, the *Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil* (APIB) organized a tranquil demonstration just prior to the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. Merely two days ahead of the gathering of world leaders in Brazil for the G20 meeting set for November 18, Indigenous activists captured global attention by submerging cutout heads of the globe’s most influential political figures into the waters below the famed Sugarloaf Mountain. This poignant act aimed to confront the leaders of the most powerful nations — including U.S. President Joe Biden, China’s President Xi Jinping, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Russian President Vladimir Putin — for their inadequate actions against climate change.
This demonstration also signals the start of a wider Indigenous-led mobilization in anticipation of the upcoming 30th Climate Conference (*COP-30*) scheduled to occur next year in Belém, Brazil, situated in the Amazon region. The protest serves as an essential alert for the world’s wealthiest countries, calling them to enhance their efforts in the battle against the escalating climate crisis.
### A Strong Message from APIB
The imagery of leaders’ heads sinking in water clearly symbolizes the stagnation and ineffective responses by the world’s richest nations amidst increasing climate challenges. APIB, the representative coalition for Brazil’s Indigenous peoples, utilized this demonstration to illustrate the diminishing chances for human survival due to ineffective environmental policies and unfulfilled climate promises.
In a strong declaration, APIB stated, “We will never cease to defend life, and we will not be distracted by fruitless discussions and hollow commitments. As governments persist in mediating insufficient goals and empty funds, we want to announce that, moving forward, we will spearhead a global movement for life on Earth.”
Their move calls on governments to intensify their commitment, highlighting the urgency for achieving substantial change. The message, while hopeful for the future, vehemently condemns the inaction of global leaders caught between economic interests and feeble environmental policies, which neglect to tackle the looming effects of climate breakdown.
### “We Are the Solution”
Leading this initiative is APIB’s new campaign named *“We Are the Solution”* (*A Resposta Somos Nós*). The campaign demands that affluent nations actively involve Indigenous communities, who are often at the forefront of environmental protection, in the development of climate strategies and policies. The objective is to urge these countries to reassess their priorities, shifting away from short-term gains and corporate interests towards solutions that protect people, ecosystems, and the global climate.
Indigenous groups globally have long argued that their expertise in land management, conservation, and biodiversity is crucial for fostering climate resilience. Research has repeatedly demonstrated that, even in regions facing significant deforestation challenges, areas governed by Indigenous peoples typically display healthier ecosystems. Nevertheless, many Indigenous communities confront political and economic marginalization that limits their participation in the global climate dialogue.
### A Failed Promise of Climate Financing
APIB also seized this moment to address a crucial matter: the unfulfilled funding pledges made by wealthy nations. For instance, during COP26 in 2021, a substantial promise of $1.7 billion was made to support Indigenous peoples in forest protection. However, Brazilian Indigenous leaders highlighted that merely 7% of that funding has been directly granted to Indigenous organizations.
The dilemma is further aggravated by the ongoing global investments in fossil fuels and unsustainable sectors. APIB denounces the subsidies allocated to oil companies and other polluting industries as a significant contradiction, as they hinder potential advancements in renewable energy and climate adaptation efforts, particularly for vulnerable communities.
Dinaman Tuxá, executive coordinator of APIB, remarked, “It is imperative to amend this policy that prioritizes corporate profits over the protection of communities. The wealthiest nations must accept their responsibility and finance climate solutions for those, including Indigenous peoples, who are at the front lines of this crisis.”
### The Implications for the Amazon and Beyond
The selection of Belém, situated within the Amazon rainforest, as the venue for COP-30 carries profound significance. The Amazon is not only the world’s largest tropical rainforest; it is often referred to as “the lungs of the planet” due to its capacity to absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide. However, over the past year, efforts to safeguard the Amazon have faced challenges, partly due to economic interests connected to logging, agriculture, and mining. By bringing global leaders to the heart of the Amazon, APIB and other organizers aim to provide direct, personal insight into the critical stakes involved in preserving the rainforest, essential for maintaining the planet’s climate.