Indigenous Peoples Platform

 Stance on Fossil Fuels

Indigenous Peoples demand full participation and inclusion of their knowledge in the renewable energy transition. As their lands are disproportionately affected, Indigenous representatives at COP28 advocated for a “fast, fair, and funded fossil fuel phaseout” prioritising a just transition and Indigenous rights.

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Several Indigenous Peoples groups called for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty to end coal, oil, and gas expansion and halt mining in Indigenous territories. The just transition as envisioned by the Indigenous Environmental Network would leave over 80% of fossil fuel reserves intact and financially support Indigenous-led transitions. This funding aims to reduce fossil fuel dependency imposed by colonial governments and help communities restore their environments.

Indigenous groups at COP28 rejected market-based solutions, seeing them as part of a capitalist system reinforcing inequality and colonialism. They argued that carbon markets and offsets sustain fossil fuel interests by focusing on profits. This lack of incentive increases risks of militarization, land loss, pollution, and carbon double-counting.

The Indigenous Environmental Network criticised technologies like carbon capture, blue hydrogen, and geoengineering due to risks and negative impacts on the environment and Indigenous communities.

(An actually not so) fun fact:

Reports highlight a critical lack of climate funding for Indigenous communities. The Global Alliance of Territorial Communities found that only 2.1% of the $1.7 billion promised to Indigenous peoples at COP26 in Glasgow was actually received by them. Furthermore, the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples could only support the attendance of 15 Indigenous leaders at COP28, despite receiving 700 applications.

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