Indigenous communities hold key to immediate climate action, field research shows

While world leaders debate complex technological solutions at high-stakes climate negotiations, environmental researchers are pointing to a more straightforward approach: empowering Indigenous communities who already protect vast carbon-storing forests.

A recent gathering at Sira village in Southwest Papua brought together 89 Indigenous delegates from seven customary areas across Papua, along with representatives from Amazon, Congo Basin, and Borneo communities. The Forest Defender Camp highlighted what scientists increasingly recognize – Indigenous-managed lands are among the most effective barriers against deforestation and carbon emissions.

Unlike costly transitions away from fossil fuels or massive food system overhauls, supporting Indigenous land rights offers an immediate climate solution that pays for itself through preserved biodiversity and prevented emissions. These communities have successfully maintained forest ecosystems for generations, protecting both critical carbon stores and irreplaceable wildlife habitats.

The path forward appears surprisingly direct. In Indonesia, for example, enacting the long-delayed Indigenous Peoples Bill and providing communities with proper resource access could yield immediate climate benefits. This approach doesn’t require retraining entire workforces or developing new technologies – it builds on existing knowledge and successful conservation practices already proven in the field.

As climate negotiations continue in Brazil’s Amazon city of Belém, this grassroots evidence from West Papua’s Bird’s Head Peninsula suggests that some of our most powerful climate tools aren’t waiting to be invented. They’re already working in Indigenous territories around the world, needing only recognition and support to scale up their impact.