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Parts of this site were translated using AI. Accuracy may vary.
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2025
On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, discover inspiring stories of climate leadership, from forest stewardship in Brazil to clean energy transitions in the Canadian Arctic.
Saturday, 9 August 2025 | By Climate High-Level Champions
Indigenous Peoples care for lands that hold much of the planet’s remaining biodiversity. Their knowledge systems, governance models and deep ties to their ancestral lands have protected ecosystems for generations, shaping ways of life rooted in balance with the natural world.
As climate change intensifies, this leadership is critical. Indigenous communities are advancing food and water security, restoring degraded landscapes, strengthening adaptation, and building cleaner, fairer energy systems yet their rights, knowledge, and access to climate finance remain consistently under-recognized.
On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, discover just a few of the many ways Indigenous leaders and communities are shaping more resilient and inclusive climate responses, drawn from Race to Resilience partner Regions4, and the soon-to-be-released Data Study on Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Contributions.
In southern Brazil, 35 Indigenous leaders from the Kaingang, Guarani Ñandeva, Tukano, and Terena Peoples are managing 4,400 hectares of forest in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba. Their agreement with the state of Paraná is the first of its kind, supporting conservation, sustainable tourism, and environmental education, all led by Indigenous governance and cultural priorities. The initiative is part of Race to Resilience partner, RegionsAdapt, a global network supporting regional governments working with Indigenous and local communities on climate action.
In Ecuador’s Zamora Chinchipe region, the Indigenous association ASOPROMÁS is leading a climate adaptation initiative rooted in ancestral agroecological knowledge. Through local agroecology schools, the community promotes organic farming, biodiversity conservation, and climate-resilient cocoa production. With international support, they’ve launched a community chocolate brand, Kujeñito, which is strengthening local incomes and food security while reducing environmental pressures.
In the Yucatán Peninsula, Maya farmers are adapting the ancient Milpa system, a way of growing maize, beans, and squash without chemical inputs, in response to rapidly shifting climate conditions. These community-led approaches preserve biocultural heritage while strengthening nutrition, soil health, and climate resilience.
In India’s Eastern Himalayas, Indigenous communities in Sikkim are championing agroforestry systems that integrate trees, crops, and local biodiversity. These mixed cropping models help retain soil moisture, regulate microclimates, and provide a low-emission alternative to conventional agriculture. The Lepcha, Lachenpas and Dokpas also use phenological indicators, such as flowering times and animal behaviour, to guide seasonal planning and avoid overuse of ecological resources.
In Northern Quebec, melting permafrost is dramatically reshaping life for Inuit and other Indigenous communities. The Province of Québec is working directly with these communities to co-create climate adaptation plans that mix traditional ecological knowledge with climate science. The plans address infrastructure risks, food systems, and cultural preservation, ensuring responses are grounded in lived experience and local priorities.
In Canada’s Arctic, the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities programme is supporting Indigenous and northern communities to shift away from diesel. Backed by CAD $220 million in public investment, the programme includes more than 150 clean energy projects, from solar microgrids in Nunavut to biomass heating systems in the Yukon.
Many of these projects are Indigenous-led, co-designed with communities, and tailored to Arctic conditions. The funding supports training, governance, and long-term resilience which in turn is helping build energy sovereignty and reduce emissions while creating local jobs.
All the examples highlighted here, from community monitoring in the Amazon to climate-resilient farming in the Himalayas, are part of a much wider story. Set to launch later this year, the Global Study on Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Contributions, led by the ELATIA Consortium (with ongoing support from the Climate Champions Team and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund) maps hundreds of Indigenous-led actions across all regions and ecosystems. The Study will provide a data-driven overview of how Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge, governance and innovation are helping to deliver real climate solutions: from mitigation and adaptation, to food sovereignty, biodiversity protection, and unlocking finance for frontline communities.
The Study is currently open for submissions until the end of August.
To make a submission, please email ipglobalstudy@gmail.com with case studies from your region and for more information.
