Indigenous rights and knowledge at COP30 in Belém ^{CEFR B1}

COP30 took place in Belém, Pará, from November 10 to 21, 2025. At a Blue Zone debate on November 12, climate scientist Sineia Do Vale (also called Sineia Wapichana) argued that securing Indigenous rights to territory is a vital first step for effective climate policy. She said Indigenous traditional knowledge must be combined with scientific research to shape solutions.

Do Vale spoke in several roles: as a climate scientist, co‑president of the Indigenous Caucus, representative for the COP30 Presidency, and coordinator of the Department of Territorial, Environmental, and Climate Change Management (DGTAMC) of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR). She has worked for over 30 years with Indigenous knowledge to protect the Amazon from extreme weather.

She cited Roraima as an example: rural areas suffered severe fires in 2024 that affected 80 percent of the zone. Between February 1 and 23, 2024, Inpe detected 1,692 fire outbreaks, surpassing 1,347 outbreaks in February 2007, an increase of 449 percent. Do Vale warned that fires destroy biodiversity and medicinal plants and said funding is needed to move from voluntary work to paid, supported measures. Ana Paula Wapichana described community brigades and controlled burning in agriculture and stressed urgent adaptation.