Indigenous Peoples are critical to nature-based solutions to climate change – iPolitics.ca
‘Indigenous Peoples are already stewarding nearly one-fifth of the total carbon sequestered by tropical and subtropical forests, and Indigenous territories encompass 40 per cent of the world’s protected areas.’
Nature-based solutions (NbS) to climate change — such as ecosystem protection or conservation, improved forest-management practices, and afforestation (planting trees in new areas) — can significantly reduce global net emissions of greenhouse gases. This is especially the case when NbS are paired with emissions reductions and clean-energy solutions. NbS could provide 30 to 40 per cent of the CO2 mitigation required by 2030 to help ensure warming is capped at under 2 C.
While holding great potential for effective climate-change policy, NbS measures such as protected areas and forest plantations can negatively affect Indigenous Peoples globally through displacement, livelihood restrictions, and ensuing cultural impacts. These impacts intensify the disadvantages already faced by Indigenous communities, including human-rights violations, discrimination, and poverty.
