COP30 Chaos: Floods Hit Climate Summit in Brazil, Activists Clash with Guards

By Sadab Khan
America News World | November 12, 2025

The United Nations’ big climate meeting, COP30, started with a bang in Belém, Brazil. But not the good kind. Heavy rains flooded the streets and even parts of the conference site on day one. Then, on day two, angry activists tried to storm the main entrance, leading to fights with security guards. This event, meant to fix the world’s warming problems, is already facing irony and tension. Around 50,000 people from over 190 countries are there to talk about cutting pollution and helping those hit by climate disasters.

COP30 kicked off on November 10 in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. It’s a two-week event to push for real action on global warming. Leaders like Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva say it’s time to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. That’s the safe line set in the 2015 Paris Agreement. But experts warn we’re on track to blow past it, with last year being the hottest ever. Storms, fires, and floods are getting worse, and poor countries suffer most.

The drama began right away. A big storm hit Belém on Monday afternoon. Water poured down, turning roads into rivers. One key spot, Parque da Cidade, got swamped. This park is a main hub for talks and events. The press center flooded too, with water up to ankles in some areas. Videos on social media show puddles everywhere and people wading through. Even bus stops for delegates on Júlio César Avenue went under water.

The rain didn’t just wet the floors—it drowned out important talks. At one press conference, Filippo Grandi, the top UN refugee official, joked he couldn’t hear questions over the downpour. “The sound of heavy rain disrupted several press conferences,” reports from Folha de S.Paulo said. Belém sits in a rainy spot near the Amazon River delta. November is usually drier, but experts say climate change makes wild weather more common. 0 Organizers knew floods were a risk but hoped for better luck. 2

Social media lit up with jokes and anger. One X post said, “One day, there’s a water shortage. The next, there’s a surplus. They outdid themselves this time!” Another called it “shameful” that a huge event like COP30 couldn’t handle a leaky roof. Users pointed out the funny side: a summit on climate woes gets wrecked by… climate woes. “Earth’s reality check,” one headline put it. Videos of the mess spread fast, with over 20,000 views on some clips.

Things got heated on Tuesday evening. A group of Indigenous protesters and allies marched to the main gate. They wanted more say in the talks, especially on protecting their lands from mining and logging. Chants rang out: “They cannot decide for us without us!” That’s a big gripe—Indigenous groups say big companies and governments ignore them while chopping down the Amazon.

Dozens broke through barriers, waving flags and signs like “Our land is not for sale” and “We can’t eat money.” Security guards pushed back hard. Fists flew, and some grabbed plastic bins to swing at each other. Two guards got minor hurts, like bruises. The UN said there was “minor damage to the venue” but no big harm. Protesters from the Tupinambá group and left-wing PSOL party led the charge. They also called for taxes on the super-rich to pay for green fixes.

The UN locked down the site quick. Delegates inside had to stay put for a bit, then leave safely. No arrests were reported right away, but police were everywhere. This is the first big clash at a COP in years. Past summits had peaceful marches, but tensions are high here. Indigenous leaders sailed down the Amazon River by boat to join, demanding real power in decisions. Chief Raoni Metuktire, a famous Kayapó elder, slammed industry projects eating up forests.

Brazil’s Lula wants COP30 to spotlight native peoples. He said attendees should get “inspired” by them, as they’ve lived sustainably forever. But critics say words aren’t enough. Forests are vanishing fast, and warming makes it worse. The summit aims to boost cash for poor nations—from $300 billion a year now to $1.3 trillion by 2035. That’s from a deal at last year’s COP29 in Azerbaijan. 5 8 Brazil plans a “Tropical Forest Forever Facility” to save rainforests. New country plans to cut emissions are due soon too.

Not everything is doom. Leaders shared stories of hope. Somalia’s deputy PM talked of rising seas wrecking lives. Small island nations begged to “honour 1.5C.” California’s governor called out U.S. politics, saying Trump acts like an “invasive species.” 4 25 Nigeria’s VP pushed for action over talk, noting floods and droughts as Earth’s “distress alerts.” 20 Groups like the UN’s migration arm say put people first—millions are moving from disasters already.

Belém itself is strained. The city of 1.5 million lacks enough hotel rooms, so prices shot up. Some delegates brought fewer staff. Traffic jams and hot tents added woes on day one. A fire near the airport didn’t help. Prep work, like fixing drains, lagged too—locals say cash went to fancy spots for VIPs, not poor areas still flooding.

As COP30 rolls on till November 21, eyes are on deals. Will rich nations pay up? Can Indigenous voices shape policy? The floods and fights show the crisis is real—and urgent. Earth isn’t waiting. One X user summed it: “The planet’s crying for help, and we’re just getting wet.”  For America News World, this is Sadab Khan in Belém. Stay tuned as talks heat up—pun intended.