Photo credit: news.un.org
On Thursday, the The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples report was launched, revealing a significant disparity: Indigenous Peoples represent a mere six percent of the global population yet maintain 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity, while receiving less than one percent of international climate funding.
This report critiques the current state of climate action, highlighting not only its lack of urgency but also the inequities embedded within it. Often, Indigenous communities find themselves sidelined in decision-making processes regarding climate policies that directly impact their lands and lives, being displaced from their territories by projects that lack their consent.
“While we are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, Indigenous Peoples are not victims,” writes Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, in the foreword of the report. “We are custodians of the natural world, committed to preserving the planet’s natural equilibrium for future generations.”
Produced under the auspices of the UN, the publication compiles insights from Indigenous leaders, scholars, and the World Health Organization (WHO), blending various case studies and firsthand accounts from seven diverse regions globally.
Modern Challenges, Ancient Wisdom
The report calls for a reevaluation of the understanding of Indigenous knowledge, urging that it be seen not as “traditional” folklore, but rather as scientifically grounded and technically astute knowledge. Indigenous systems of understanding are described as “time-tested, method-driven,” shaped by lifelong connections to ecosystems.
For instance, a Quechua community in Ayacucho, Peru, has revitalized ancient water sowing and harvesting techniques to adapt to changing climatic conditions, such as glacier retreat and drought. This knowledge is now being shared with Costa Rican farmers, exemplifying effective South-South cooperation in climate adaptation.
In Somalia, oral traditions function as ecological governance. Cultural practices, like prohibitions against harvesting specific trees (gurmo go’an), illustrate how environmental laws can be rooted in generational wisdom conveyed through narratives and proverbs.
The Comcaac community in Mexico employs their language to encode crucial ecological knowledge. Place names such as Moosni Oofia (where green turtles gather) and Tosni Iti Ihiiquet (where pelicans hatch) serve as vital reference points for their survival and management of resources.
Green Technologies and Indigenous Challenges
The report highlights the growing irony of the green energy transition, which often places Indigenous Peoples in harm’s way, not as allies in climate solutions, but as collateral damage. “So-called green solutions can pose similar threats to Indigenous communities as the climate crisis itself,” asserts Ibrahim. The drive for renewable energies frequently leads to exploitative practices, including biofuel expansion, carbon offsetting initiatives, and resource extraction without proper consent.
In Africa, the report points out the extraction of minerals essential for the green energy movement—such as lithium and cobalt—which frequently occurs without free, prior, and informed consent. These activities often lead to environmental degradation and the displacement of Indigenous communities, echoing historical injustices.
Across the Americas, similar issues arise with carbon offset projects focused on forest conservation that have been executed without meaningful dialogue with Indigenous peoples, contributing to both environmental damage and economic exclusion.
The Health Crisis Linked to Climate Change
A section of the report, prepared by WHO, underscores how climate-induced health issues intersect with the social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of Indigenous life. In the Arctic, shifts in temperatures, wildlife migration patterns, and changing weather conditions threaten traditional activities such as hunting, leading to food insecurity.
Furthermore, Indigenous women face heightened vulnerabilities at the nexus of climate change and health. In East Africa, for instance, they are disproportionately impacted by neglected tropical diseases like schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis.
In the Amazon, biodiversity loss linked to climate change has hampered access to traditional foods and medicinal plants, resulting in nutritional deficiencies among pregnant and nursing women, thereby impacting broader community health factors.
The report, however, highlights the resilience shown by these communities. Many Indigenous groups are pursuing localized adaptation strategies, often driven by the wisdom of women and elders, such as reviving traditional diets, enhancing intergenerational knowledge transfer, and adjusting harvesting practices in response to new environmental conditions.
Barriers to Funding and Governance
Even as Indigenous communities gain recognition in international environmental frameworks, the report indicates that their involvement in climate policy development remains severely restricted, particularly concerning governance and funding access. Less than one percent of global climate financing directly reaches Indigenous Peoples, despite the substantial resources allocated across various climate initiatives worldwide.
The authors advocate for a transformative approach: not only increasing funding but also rethinking control over these resources. Key recommendations include establishing Indigenous-led financial frameworks, formally recognizing Indigenous governance structures, and ensuring communities maintain sovereignty over data about their lands and cultures.
The report concludes with a stark warning: without restructuring these systems, ongoing climate action could perpetuate the same exclusionary and exploitative patterns that have historically undermined Indigenous rights and broader environmental sustainability goals.
Source
news.un.org