Wednesday, November 19, 2025 – Indigenous voices speak up, but have little clout at COP30

As 200 nations from around the globe meet on the edge of the Amazon rainforest to hammer out cooperative goals on climate change, Indigenous people are making their presence known. They are included in discussions but have no negotiation power outside of the official representation from the countries they reside in. Many Indigenous attendees have organized marches, experienced civil disobedience, and even clashed with security officials in order to have their voices heard. Notably absent from this year’s talks is any senior Trump administration delegation. We’ll hear Indigenous perspectives about their role at COP30.

We’ll also hear from Cree journalist Brandi Morin, who spent months reporting on conflicts between Indigenous communities in Ecuador and Canadian mining companies. Currently, Ecuador’s president is working on reforming the country’s constitution to open up more natural resources for extraction.

GUESTS

Taily Terena (Terena), Indigenous climate and land activist

Andrea Carmen (Yaqui), executive director of the International Indian Treaty Council

Edson Krenak (Krenak), Brazil program manager for Cultural Survival

Brandi Morin (Cree, Iroquois, and French), journalist

 

Break 1 Music: Guerra (song) XOCÔ (artist) XOCÔ (album)

Break 2 Music: Treemen (song) Digger Jonez (artist)