Indigenous Peoples Critical Role in Climate Action and Challenges

The United Nations released The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples report highlighting Indigenous peoples’ crucial environmental stewardship and systemic exclusion from climate funding.

• Indigenous peoples represent 6% of the global population but safeguard 80% of the planet’s biodiversity.
• They receive less than 1% of international climate finance despite their role in managing ecosystems.
• Indigenous traditional knowledge is recognized as scientific and method-driven, with examples from Peru (water sowing), Somalia (ecological laws), and Mexico (ecological naming).
• Green energy projects and mineral extraction often occur without Indigenous consent, causing environmental harm and displacement.
• The report calls for Indigenous-led financial mechanisms, formal recognition of governance, data sovereignty, and inclusion in climate policy formulation.
  The report urges reshaping climate action to prioritize Indigenous rights and leadership to avoid perpetuating exclusion and environmental degradation.