Indigenous Communities Denied Climate Funds Despite Global Pledges and Critical Role in Conservation

Billions of dollars have been pledged to address the climate crisis, yet almost none of that funding reaches Indigenous peoples—despite their recognized importance in global conservation efforts.

“From the Amazon to Australia, and Africa to the Arctic, you are the great guardians of nature, a living library of biodiversity conservation, and champions of climate action.”

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres made these remarks during the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City last week. However, global financial institutions tasked with climate funding have failed to deliver resources to Indigenous communities or even track their access to these funds.

Indigenous Advocates Demand Direct Climate Finance Access

At the Permanent Forum, Indigenous leaders highlighted the devastating impacts of flooding and wildfires on their communities. They called for governments and global funds to provide direct access to climate finance.

“The demand for direct access to finance by Indigenous peoples is a matter of right. It’s actually explicitly mentioned in the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that because of the historical injustices and the need for us to develop, we need direct access to finances.”

Joan Carling, an Indigenous Kankanaey Igorot from the Philippines, former expert member of the Permanent Forum, and executive director of Indigenous Peoples Rights International, emphasized this demand.

An analysis by Rainforest Foundation Norway reveals that between 2011 and 2020, Indigenous peoples and local communities involved in land tenure and forest management received less than 1% of global funding for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Indigenous peoples are often grouped with “local communities” in conservation discussions, despite repeated calls from Indigenous U.N. experts to treat them separately.

“We are not asking for charity. We are not asking for privilege. This is a matter of right for us because it’s a matter of social justice. It’s just enabling us to adapt to the impacts of climate change that we did not create in the first place.”

Carling’s statement underscores the urgency of addressing historical injustices through direct financial support.

Climate Crisis Forces Tough Choices for Indigenous Leaders

The climate crisis is forcing Indigenous leaders into difficult decisions: whether to rebuild homes after disasters or relocate entire villages from ancestral lands. These choices are compounded by a lack of financial resources and international court rulings affirming the right to reparations for climate-related harm.

“We are protecting forests, we are protecting biodiversity.”

Deborah Sanchez, an Indigenous Miskito from Honduras and director of the Community Land Rights and Conservation Finance Initiative (established in 2021), stressed the importance of community-led conservation.

“Once the rights are realized for the communities, that’s the basis where everything can really be sustainable over time.”

Global Climate Funds Fail to Accredit Indigenous Organizations

The Green Climate Fund (GCF), the official global climate fund designated by the Paris Agreement, manages a portfolio of $20 billion. Yet, as of now, not a single Indigenous peoples organization has been accredited to receive funding from it, according to Helen Magata, an Indigenous Kadaclan Igorot and member of the GCF’s Indigenous Advisory Committee (established in 2022).