Cop30 conference centre evacuated as fire breaks out – as it happened
At the recent COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgent need for countries to seek compromises as negotiations approached their final hours. His call for collaboration resonates strongly with the voices of many marginalized communities, particularly those directly impacted by environmental degradation. Among them was Magne Tony, a representative from French Guiana, who stood outside the conference center alongside fellow compatriots, distributing flyers that bore a stark message: “Our Amazon is dying.” This grassroots effort highlights the disconnect between decision-makers in far-off capitals and the realities faced by local populations in the Amazon basin.
Tony’s poignant remarks shed light on the challenges faced by French Guiana, a territory situated 9,000 kilometers from the Amazon rainforest, yet heavily influenced by decisions made in Paris. He articulated the pressing issues of rising water levels, food scarcity, and increasing temperatures, which are exacerbated by what he termed “Western capitalist madness.” These crises disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, particularly women and communities reliant on the region’s forests and rivers. Tony stressed that the plight of French Guiana is not just a local issue; it is a global concern due to the Amazon’s critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate. He pointed out that without self-determination, the people of French Guiana cannot effectively protect their environment or ensure their food and energy security, as decisions made without local consultation fail to address the unique challenges they face.
The situation in French Guiana serves as a stark reminder of the broader implications of environmental policies and the importance of including diverse voices in global dialogues, especially those from indigenous and underrepresented communities. As the world grapples with the urgent need for climate action, it becomes increasingly clear that effective solutions must be rooted in the lived experiences of those most affected. Tony’s advocacy for local representation resonates deeply with Guterres’s call for compromise and collaboration, underscoring the necessity of integrating local knowledge and perspectives into international environmental negotiations. The fate of the Amazon—and by extension, the planet—depends on recognizing and addressing the voices that have long been marginalized in these critical discussions.
UN secretary-general António Guterres earlier used speech at Belem summit to urge countries to find compromises in final hours of negotiations
Inside the halls of Cop30 you see people from all around the world, and it can be easy to forget that there are many people who remain unrepresented.
On Thursday morning, Magne Tony was standing with compatriots from French Guiana outside the entrance to the conference centre, trying to push pieces of paper into the hands of arriving delegates and observers headed: “Our Amazon is dying”.
The main problem is that France are in 9,000 kilometres from Amazonia, from South America, and they’re taking decisions. [But] they don’t really know what is the problem really. They’re taking the decisions from their own mind and the problem is that they’re far from reality.
That’s why we decided to alert the people in the world about [our] problems: water coming up, getting enough to eat, more heat – in some parts of French Guiana, people don’t have water.
These crises, a consequence of Western capitalist madness, primarily affect the most vulnerable: women and communities dependent on forests and rivers. But they also concern all of humanity: French Guiana is part of the Amazon, a regulator of the global climate and essential to planetary balance.
We remind you that French Guiana is the last colony in South America without self-determination. We will not be able to protect our environment or guarantee our food and energy self-sufficiency, essential for our collective survival, as long as decisions are made in Paris without consulting the affected communities or taking into account local specificities.
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