Indigenous Nations and climate change mitigation: What’s the link?

What is it about?

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are an effective method of climate change mitigation. These include ecosystem conservation, improved forest management practices, and afforestation, which can help reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide by 30%-40% by 2030. However, these “solutions” can negatively affect Indigenous Peoples worldwide when undertaken without their involvement. For example, Indigenous Peoples may experience displacement, livelihood restrictions, and cultural impacts from NbS. This is relevant in Canada, which has globally important carbon sinks located in Indigenous territories. The authors suggest that climate change policies need to be inclusive of Indigenous Peoples to be effective and just. A collaborative effort is therefore necessary for climate change mitigation using NbS.

Featured Image

Photo by Mladen Borisov on Unsplash

Photo by Mladen Borisov on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Globally, Indigenous Peoples disproportionately face climate-related threats such as food insecurity and displacement due to floods, droughts, and fires. In Canada, despite having recognized rights and generations of place-based Indigenous Knowledge relevant to climate change, Indigenous Peoples are often excluded from climate policy. Indigenous Peoples steward nearly one fifth of the total carbon sequestered by tropical and subtropical forests worldwide, and Indigenous territories are important for safeguarding biodiversity. Yet, Indigenous Nations wishing to pursue NbS in their territories face various challenges. By ensuring Indigenous Peoples are equal partners in climate policy and NbS these challenges can be overcome. KEY TAKEAWAY For NbS to be effective, inclusive, and just, they must be—at the very least—collaboratively developed with Indigenous Peoples whose territories are implicated in climate solutions.

Perspectives