COP 25, the UN climate change summit, has entered its second week here in Madrid. The so-called “high-level” section is when heads of state and environment ministers from around the world join negotiations and make statements on national activities.
But on Monday morning, the media hoard wrestled its way into a press conference hosted by environmental activist Greta Thunberg and colleagues of her Fridays for Future movement. Rather than use the platform to call for climate action herself, Thunberg and co-host the German activist Luisa Neubauer introduced speakers from indigenous communities in North America, South America and Africa.
In the video above, a member of the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, US, gives a prayer for his people and the climate. In the audio clip below, Thunberg explains why she believes that indigenous voices should be central to climate talks.
The press conference followed a march for climate action on Friday evening, which organizers claim attracted around 500,000 people.
The march – which included speeches from Thunberg and the Spanish actor Javier Bardem – was a culmination of the atmosphere of protest that surrounds this UN climate event. Whether it will lead to the “rapid and deep change” advocated by UN secretary general António Guterres in the COP 25 opening ceremony will become clearer as the week unfolds.
