🌱 Why are Indigenous Peoples key to a just transition?
There can be no just transition without the protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Indigenous Peoples play a vital role in “biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management”. Companies and governments looking to protect forests should therefore take active steps towards “empowering and involving indigenous populations” and including their voices in decision-making.[i]
🌱 Why are collaboration and consent important?
The protection of our forests and the creation of a just transition “requires a collective commitment on the part of governments, organisations, and individuals to uphold human rights, respect cultural heritage, and promote sustainable practi[c]es that guarantee the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature”. Only by “working together and taking responsibility” is it possible to build a sustainable and just future.[ii] In this context, conducting thorough environmental impact assessments and attaining free and prior informed consent (FPIC) is key.
🌱 What risks are there to excluding Indigenous Peoples?
Without adequate measures to protect and respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights and “particularly their right to self-determination” and to FPIC, there is a risk of “exacerbating existing conflicts between [businesses] and Indigenous Peoples communities”. This can, in turn, “increas[e] legal and operational risks for both states and industries”. In the worst case, “the pace of the energy transition – and the energy transition itself – [may be] at risk due to the potential loss of [a] Social License to Operate and social unrest”.[iii]
This post has been adapted from a newsletter written by Christine Nikander and Heidrun Kordholste-Nikander. The newsletter titled “How can companies protect Indigenous Peoples’ rights by caring for forests?” was originally published in “The Just Transition Newsletter” by Palsa & Pulk.
[i] Kanungo, Alokya: The Silent Cry of the Forest: How Deforestation Impacts Indigenous Communities. https://earth.org/the-silent-cry-of-the-forest-how-deforestation-impacts-indigenous-communities/ (05.11.2024)
[ii] Kanungo, Alokya: The Silent Cry of the Forest: How Deforestation Impacts Indigenous Communities. https://earth.org/the-silent-cry-of-the-forest-how-deforestation-impacts-indigenous-communities/ (05.11.2024)
[iii] Cultural Survival, Securing Indigenous Rights in the Green Economy Coalition: EU’s Legislation on Critical Raw Materials Risks Increasing Threats to Indigenous Peoples from Mining Projects. https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/eus-legislation-critical-raw-materials-risks-increasing-threats-indigenous-peoples-mining (05.11.2024)