Indigenous rights and knowledge at COP30 in BelémCEFR A2
26 Nov 2025
Adapted from Liam Anderson, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Daniel Granja, Unsplash
COP30 was held in Belém, Pará, from November 10 to 21, 2025. On November 12, Sineia Do Vale spoke at a Blue Zone debate. She is a climate scientist and leader of the Indigenous Caucus. She said that securing Indigenous rights to territory is the first step toward good climate policy.
Do Vale led an event called "From on the ground to the world — and back: Indigenous pathways to adapting to climate change." Participants included NICFI, the UNFCCC, the Green Climate Fund, Elatia (Global Partnership of Indigenous Peoples), and the Tenure Facility. She also said Indigenous communities mix traditional knowledge and scientific research and that funding is needed to support their work.
Difficult words
- Indigenous — Related to native people and their culture.
- combine — To put two or more things together.combining
- insights — Deep understanding of something important.
- biodiversity — The variety of different plants and animals.
- decision-making — The process of making choices or decisions.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can Indigenous knowledge help in climate issues?
- Why is it important to include various voices in climate discussions?
- What changes could help protect biodiversity?
- Can combining different types of knowledge improve climate strategies?
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