Belém, Brazil, 14 November 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Dozens of Indigenous people and other climate activists blocked the main entrance to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil for several hours Friday morning.

Armed and partially masked police officers in protective gear positioned themselves in front of the entrance to the tent city in Belém.

COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago approached the protesters in front of the locked gate and persuaded them to step aside for a discussion about their concerns.

Hundreds of delegates, journalists and observers had a prolonged wait in a huge crowd for admission and arrived late at the venue.

The Brazilian news portal G1 reported that the Indigenous people of the Munduruku tribe had demanded a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

They want better protection of their settlement areas against the destructive activities of large companies, and the repeal of the national waterways plan.

In their view, the plan will lead to new dredging work, the destruction of sacred rocks and the expansion of private ports in the region – with lasting ecological and social consequences.

On Tuesday evening, dozens of Indigenous people stormed the secure tent city of the conference. They broke down doors and scuffled with security forces.

Thousands of Indigenous activists are also represented at the conference in the city of Belém. They are campaigning against the destruction of their ancestral homeland, for example through the cutting-down of the rainforest.