Widening the frame: Indigenous land rights and the future of climate policy

"Their message to international climate-action decision makers is simple: Indigenous Peoples have the right to own and manage their ancestral land, and honoring those rights is a crucial lever in climate action. In much of the Western world, even well-informed news consumers may find this message unfamiliar, set against the dominant climate script—electrify everything, build green tech, cut emissions."

"Joan Carling, a human rights activist and the executive director of Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI), was one of at least 5,000 Indigenous representatives in attendance, a more than tenfold increase over recent COPs. A member of the Kankanaey people of the Philippines, Carling's presence underscored the growing international recognition of Indigenous voices in climate discussions."

"Governments need to heed the calls of their constituencies, Carling says. Now there is more openness on the international stage, and my expectation is that what [Indigenous Peoples] are saying will matter, and that real actions will come from that."

At COP30 in Brazil, over 5,000 Indigenous representatives gathered to advocate for land rights as a critical climate solution. Joan Carling, executive director of Indigenous Peoples Rights International, led efforts to shift the climate conversation beyond typical solutions like electrification and green technology. Indigenous Peoples, who steward vast territories including the Amazon Rainforest, argue that honoring their rights to own and manage ancestral lands represents a crucial lever for climate action. The unprecedented attendance of Indigenous delegates signals growing international recognition that their voices and land management practices are fundamental to addressing climate change, challenging the dominant Western climate narrative.

Read at bigthink.com