On the day of the Brazilian elections in Brazil and week before the start of COP27, a traffic island in central London will be transformed into a tropical rainforest, the first of many ‘Rainforest Islands’ to spring up around the world.

The island – a cornucopia of trees, plants and forest creatures – is intended to be used as a platform for activists to gather throughout the UN Climate Conference and will amplify Indigenous voices who have been excluded from COP27.

“As the polls open in Brazil and COP begins in Egypt, Rainforest Island offers a platform for activist and Indigenous voices who have been unable or unwilling to make journey to Sharm-el-Sheik,” said Stefan Simanowitz, co-ordinator of Rainforest Island.

“Indigenous communities have conserved and sustained our planet for thousands of years and are the true experts at protecting biodiversity. It is time for us to listen to them, not because they need our help, but because we need theirs.”

Launching on Sunday outside the Brazilian Embassy and rolling out in cities around the world, Rainforest Island is intended as a space for inspiration and mobilization: “a place to reforest our hearts”.

A programme of activities will kick off with music, performances and talks by political and cultural figures as well as members of Indigenous communities.

There will be a candle-lit vigil for Dom Philips and Bruno Pereira, murdered in the Amazon earlier this year, as well as the 1,733 environmental activists killed around the world over the last decade.

An invitation has been extended to Greta Thunberg who will be launching her book on Sunday on the South Bank.

A “redemption ceremony” will involve British people offering their apologies to Indigenous leaders for what our ancestors did to their ancestors and for what our nations did to their nations.

“With the fate of the Amazon and the fate of the world hanging in the balance, there is an urgent need for climate action but that action needs to be rooted in climate justice,” said Mindahi Bastida of the Eagle and Condor Council and member of the Mother Earth Delegation of United Original Nations.

“Indigenous peoples have once again been excluded from meaningful participation and inclusion in decision-making processes at COP but our voices cannot be silenced.”