Azerbaijan is set to host the United Nations’ 29th annual climate summit, COP29, from November 11-22. As delegates from across the globe converge in Baku for this important gathering, one of the key topics of discussion revolves around carbon trading. This mechanism, hailed as a major solution for addressing emissions, allows countries and businesses to offset their carbon footprint by investing in projects that reduce carbon elsewhere. However, Indigenous leaders participating in COP29 have raised concerns about the potential risks associated with carbon trading, particularly in relation to the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples who have long been stewards of the lands involved in these transactions.
Indigenous territories are often targeted for carbon-offset projects, raising fears of rights violations and land grabs under the guise of climate action. Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, Executive Director of Indigenous Climate Action, emphasized the need for safeguards, transparency, and respect for Indigenous rights in carbon trading initiatives. Similarly, Tom Goldtooth, Executive Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, highlighted the negative impacts experienced by Indigenous communities due to over 20 years of carbon market operations.
The crux of the COP29 debate on carbon trading lies in Article 6 of the COP21 Paris Agreement, which lays the groundwork for international cooperation through carbon markets. This article enables countries to trade “internationally transferred mitigation outcomes,” potentially creating a global carbon market worth over $1 trillion annually. However, there is a growing divide between the global north, advocating for carbon markets, and the global south, in need of stable climate finance to combat climate impacts effectively.
Indigenous representatives at COP29 are pushing for a new collective quantified goal on climate finance to ensure adequate funding for vulnerable nations and Indigenous communities. They are also advocating for the principle of free, prior, and informed consent to be upheld in all carbon market policies, safeguarding Indigenous rights and decision-making processes regarding projects on their lands.
Concerns have been raised about the broad definition of “removals” in carbon markets, which could potentially allow risky technologies like geoengineering to be classified as carbon offsets without sufficient safeguards. Indigenous leaders are emphasizing the need for a rights-based approach to carbon markets to protect their lands, resources, and ways of life for future generations.
As the discussions unfold at COP29, Indigenous delegates are actively engaging with government representatives to assert their collective rights and advocate for a fair and equitable approach to carbon trading. Their goal is to ensure that any climate solutions implemented respect Indigenous rights and contribute to a sustainable future for all.
