Investors called on to integrate Indigenous Peoples' rights at COP30
"Investor Brief: COP30 and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights", 28 October 2025
A record number of Indigenous Peoples are anticipated to participate at the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) from November 10 to 21, 2025...
Indigenous Peoples’ leadership in climate change solutions signals a clear opportunity for investors to align investment stewardship activities with Indigenous Peoples’ climate priorities by respecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights and supporting Indigenous-led solutions...
...
The history of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil is marked by systemic violence and dispossession driven by government policies, ranching interests, and extractive industries like rubber and mining. However, strong Indigenous leadership leading up to COP30 exemplifies the longstanding, collective advocacy of Indigenous Peoples in the region. For instance, the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), alongside other Indigenous representatives, launched the campaign, “The Answer is Us,” ahead of COP30 to unify Indigenous Peoples and raise awareness of shared climate priorities.
While non-exhaustive, key themes Indigenous Peoples have raised as COP30 priorities include direct climate financing to Indigenous Peoples, establishing no-go zones for development, and centering Indigenous Peoples’ rights in carbon markets.
Direct climate finance
... Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sonia Guajajara, has called for the following legacy outcome for COP30: overcoming the reality of minimal direct finance to Indigenous Peoples.
In the Priority Demands of Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Peoples and Communities of Brazil and the Amazon Basin and the Political Declaration of the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon Basin and All Biomes of Brazil for COP30, Indigenous Peoples of the region demanded that climate finance mechanisms prioritize Indigenous Peoples’ direct access to resources...
No-go zones
Indigenous Peoples and environmental advocates are calling for the creation of no-go zones or climate-critical regions that would be permanently off-limits to extractive industries such as mining and logging... Such zones would ensure Indigenous territories are permanently protected from extractive industries and that Indigenous Peoples lead decision-making on land use.
In the Political Declaration of the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon Basin and All Biomes of Brazil for COP30, Indigenous Peoples call for a formal decree establishing Indigenous territories as areas free from extractive activities, emphasizing the protection of life, rights, and ecosystems.
...
Carbon markets
[It] is a longstanding concern that carbon markets could lead to further rights violations for Indigenous Peoples and land grabs under the guise of climate solutions. A key issue is that carbon market regimes lack grievance processes or safeguards for rights.
...
While some Indigenous Peoples have expressed that carbon credits may be a viable tool for directing finance to their communities, many have raised the alarm. Carbon market schemes that fail to prioritize Indigenous Peoples’ rights risk repeating extractive themes and thereby threatening Indigenous Peoples’ livelihoods, cultures, and rights, including the right to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) and self-determination.
Recommendations: Integrating Indigenous Peoples’ Rights at COP30
- Center respect for Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) as fundamental to climate approaches and investment strategies. Respecting FPIC is not optional; it is essential in safeguarding biodiversity, upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and ensuring that climate solutions align with just and sustainable outcomes.
- Commit to transforming climate finance by centering Indigenous Peoples not just as stakeholders, but as rights-holders and leaders. To safeguard global biodiversity and achieve equitable climate outcomes, direct and accessible funding through Indigenous-led financial mechanisms is essential.
- Support Indigenous Peoples’ calls to establish no-go zones in climate-critical regions by advocating for companies to adopt policies and practices that respect no-go zones and prohibit development activities in such areas.
- Advocate for Indigenous Peoples’ direct participation and leadership in carbon markets that is grounded in Indigenous Peoples’ right to FPIC, which includes the right to give or withdraw consent prior to a scheme making use of their land.
- Seek out opportunities to learn from Indigenous Peoples on climate change related issues, solutions, and priorities to ensure investment stewardship approaches account for Indigenous Peoples’ self-determined objectives.