“It’s shameful”: Amazon Indigenous people call for oil drilling ban at COP30

Jonas Mura, the leader of the Mura Indigenous community, expressed how his peace was disrupted when oil and gas companies approached them around ten years ago. Despite the pressure, he has been resisting fossil fuel extraction in Brazil’s Amazonas state, not far from where COP30 is set to take place in November.

Beneath seven Mura villages situated along the Amazon River lies more than 10 billion cubic meters of proven gas reserves, attracting Brazilian power company Eneva. Eneva has secured government funding of about $100 million for two gas-fired plants worth a total of $1 billion in the area.

Jonas Mura shared in an online interview with Climate Home that when he tried to negotiate with the company to halt gas extraction in their land, he was offered material possessions, but he refused as his people would continue to suffer. Consequently, he faced threats on his life.

Eneva has stated that it has followed all legal requirements for developing the gas field and claimed that there was no interference with Indigenous lands. The company also mentioned that consultations were not needed as part of the legal procedure for operating on state land.

The Mura leader was placed under special protection for human rights defenders in 2023 due to ongoing threats, following escalated violence in 2016 when his house was set on fire. Despite the challenges, Jonas has expanded his efforts from local resistance to global advocacy, joining with other Amazon Indigenous nations to push for a ban on oil and gas drilling in the rainforest.

The movement made its first declaration at COP16 in Colombia last year, urging for an energy transition that respects life and Mother Earth and calling for an end to oil and gas extraction in the Amazon. Recently, they convened in Peru to prepare for COP30, aiming to secure a binding agreement for phasing out fossil fuels.

Indigenous leaders at the assembly emphasized the need for governments to listen to their concerns and collaborate on solutions. They are determined to fight against oil and gas operations in the Amazon to safeguard their communities, environment, and future generations.