As world leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the G20 summit one young Larrakia man from Darwin and a collection of Brazil's Indigenous peoples were calling for climate justice.
Connor Wright represented Australia at the G20 youth summit in August.
The youth summit covers five 'tracks' - fighting hunger, poverty and inequality; climate change, energy transition and sustainable development; reform of the global governance system; inclusion and diversity; and innovation and the future of work.
Mr Wright is Australia's first Indigenous representative at the youth summit for climate change, energy transition and sustainable development track.
Larrakia man Connor Wright with Nicolas Drew, Elina Forsyth and Robert Haca at the G20 youth forum in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in August. Credit: SUPPLIED BY CONNOR WRIGHT/PR IMAGE
"I would say I'm also incredibly sad that there hasn't been anyone before me ... it's a deep shame and injustice that Indigenous people who are most affected by climate change and contributed the least to it are not given every single opportunity to voice their concerns, their perspectives and knowledge on this issue."
Before the summit began, on Saturday Indigenous organisations sank giant cut-outs of the top G20 leaders' faces in Rio de Janeiro's Botafogo Bay, to protest against global inaction on measures to stop climate change.
Holding banners reading 'We are the answer' and 'World leaders, the Amazon is watching' the protesters urged the leaders of the world's biggest economies to listen to them in order to find a way to fight the warming of the planet and cut CO2 emissions.
Mr Wright said by attending the youth forum he learned some important lessons he'll need to follow his passion in advocacy and policy making.
"One of the biggest things I would say, is that international negotiation is not easy, especially when communicating with people from different cultures, different backgrounds and different languages," he said.
Despite the challenges, the countries at the youth forum agreed unanimously to a number of recommendations in the five 'tracks', including ensuring ethical use of artificial intelligence, and investment in disaster-resilient infrastructure like water, sanitation and energy.
The forum also recommended setting mechanisms for traditional land rights for Indigenous people where none exist and allowing communities that would be affected by development projects to have ownership in them.
The youth group's recommendations have been presented to the leaders of 20 of the world's major economies at their annual summit.
A coalition of put out a statement saying the protest action with the faces of G20 leaders was the launch of an “Indigenous mobilisation towards the 30th Climate Conference (COP-30),” which is set to be held in Belém, Brazil, next year.
As Belém is located in one of Brazil's Amazon states, it will bring these leaders close to the heart of the rainforest.
"We, the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, in the face of the gravity of the climate crisis, know that the time to act is now.
"We know who is setting the planet on fire and we feel the devastating impacts in our territories and our lives: severe drought, forced isolation, diseases, lack of food, invasions, conflicts, and deaths.
"With the imminent collapse of living conditions in the world, strong and effective actions must be taken.
"There will be no life on a burning planet."
The group is claiming co-presidency of COP-30, demanding a just energy transition and protection of the world's forests, oceans and soils.
"While governments continue to mediate insufficient targets and empty fundings, we want to announce that, from now on, we will take the lead in a global mobilisation for life on the planet," they said.
"COP-30 will be held in our territory.
"We will not accept that discussions take place without the proper consultation and participation of our voices and our climate authority.
"Nothing that threatens the future of life will be tolerated."
The group is calling on all Indigenous Peoples, partners, allies, and all who care about life on Earth to join their call to collectively hold up the sky.
"If it depends on us, the sky will not fall," they said.
"We have always been here.
"The uprising of the sky starts now.
"The answer is us."
