Last week, the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) highlighted the essential importance of Indigenous Peoples’ historic participation, contributions and efforts in the fight against Climate Change and environmental degradation at New York Climate Week. The Association was represented at the international forum by Policy and Advocacy Officer Nicholas Peters, Finance Manager Samantha Humphrey, and Communications and Visibility Officer Lakhram Bhagirat.
The team, , aware of the impacts of climate change on Indigenous communities, stressed the necessity of elevating Indigenous voices, perspectives, and actions in global climate discussions. Indigenous communities are often the ones who bear the brunt of environmental destruction, are more vulnerable to natural hazards, and also play a critical role in protecting ecosystems that are vital to mitigating climate impacts.
The APA team engaged in a series of events aimed at informing stakeholders about the resources and strategies for combating Climate Change while sharing the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples across the globe. Mr. Peters participated in a panel discussion on the ‘Social Integrity within Voluntary Carbon Markets: Challenges and Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.’ The panel was co-hosted by the Rainforest Foundation US and the Rainforest Foundation Norway. It explored the growing role of Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) and their impact on Indigenous Peoples. These markets are often seen as a tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while promoting the financial benefits that Indigenous Peoples can receive from them. However, these markets still present challenges for Indigenous communities when social impacts and their rights are not considered and properly addressed. These challenges include issues of fairness in agreements for benefit sharing to Indigenous Peoples, respecting customary governance systems, and ensuring that they are freely informed before deals that involve their titled and customary lands are made with governments or the private sector.
During his presentation, Mr. Peters emphasized that while carbon markets offer opportunities for financial compensation in exchange for sustaining forests, they must be developed with Indigenous communities’ full participation and consent.
The APA delegation also participated in the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities’ (GATC) Shandia Forum, a platform designed for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) to exchange ideas and strategies for addressing Climate Change at the local level. At this gathering, the team engaged with representatives from IPLCs around the world, sharing experiences and learning about the common challenges they face.
Indigenous peoples, who protect higher rates of the world’s biological diversity (with some estimates equating to it 80 per cent), are uniquely positioned to contribute to global climate resilience. Their knowledge of local ecosystems and sustainable resource management has been passed down through generations, yet their voices and practices are often underrepresented in mainstream climate discussions.
Climate Change awareness is not just about understanding the science behind greenhouse gas emissions or the technicalities of carbon markets. It is also about recognizing the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations, particularly Indigenous communities, and valuing the solutions they offer. Indigenous peoples have long practised their own forms of environmental and land management that have promoted the sustainability of ecosystems for generations. These practices are now being recognised as critical to curbing the negative effects of Climate Change.
As the world seeks to reduce emissions and protect ecosystems, it must also ensure that Indigenous communities, who are often the first to feel the impacts of climate change, are not left behind. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, organisations like the APA continue to ensure that Indigenous perspectives remain at the forefront of global climate solutions.