Indigenous collaboration

A partnership for the global climate

Our work with indigenous peoples to preserve the global climate has been an integral part of Climate Alliance’s DNA for over 35 years.

Based on shared but differentiated responsibilities, Climate Alliance focuses on strong alliances between indigenous peoples and European regions and municipalities. The network shapes these partnerships in a variety of ways, be it cooperating with our main partner organisation COICA, representing the interests of indigenous peoples in international political processes, supporting projects in the Amazon region, the management of dedicated funds for Amazonia or promoting climate partnerships between European municipalities and indigenous peoples. But no matter the form they take, all of these partnerships serve a common goal: to promote climate justice.

Building bridges to Amazonia

COICA (Coordinadora de las Organisaziones Indígenas de la Cuenca Amazónica), is the umbrella association of indigenous organisations in the Amazon basin and campaigns for the rights of indigenous peoples. The organisation was part of Climate Alliance’s founding and has been a key network partner for over 35 years. Climate Alliance works closely with COICA and its member organisations, particularly at the political level, with the aim of supporting indigenous peoples in their struggle for legal recognition and the protection of their territories. Yet COICA is not the only such strong and long-standing partnership within Climate Alliance: Climate Alliance Austria’s more than 30-year collarboration with FOIRN (Federação das Organizações Indígenas do Rio Negro), the association of indigenous organisations on the Rio Negro in Brazil, is a case in point.

The role of indigenous peoples in global climate protection

Illegal logging, threats and persecution by drug cartels, violations of territorial rights – the situation of indigenous peoples in the Amazon region is becoming increasingly dire. And this, despite the fact that they are so crucial to the preservation of the rainforests and the protection of the global climate. Studies show that the condition of the rainforests in Amazonia generally is deteriorating rapidly as the world’s largest contiguous forest area is in danger of turning from CO₂ sink to source. Yet the picture looks different in indigenous territories. Indigenous peoples understand how to maintain the rainforest through their way of life, working with nature today as they have for millenia rather than against it. They are essential partners and the protection and recognition of their territorial rights is thus inextricably part of global climate protection.