A report by the **United Nations (UN)** denounces the **marginalization of indigenous peoples** in the fight against **climate change**, despite their **crucial role in **environmental conservation**.
Although they represent only **6% of the world’s population**, they protect **80% of the planet’s biodiversity**, but receive less than **1% of international climate funding**.
## Ancestral knowledge key to the climate fight
The study, which includes testimonies from **indigenous leaders, researchers, and WHO experts**, emphasizes that indigenous knowledge must be understood as:
– **Scientific and technical**, not just traditional or folkloric.
– **Proven over time**, based on direct relationships with ecosystems.
An example of this is the **Quechua community of Ayacucho, Peru**, which has recovered **ancestral practices of **water management** to address the decrease in **glaciers** and **drought**.
## Threats from green solutions themselves
The report warns that many ecological initiatives:
– **Do not consult indigenous peoples**, affecting their territories.
– **Use carbon offset programs**, excluding them from economic benefits.
– **Expand the exploitation of natural resources**, harming biodiversity.
In the **Amazon**, **climate change has reduced access to traditional resources**, affecting the health of communities.
## Exclusion from funding and structural barriers
Despite their positive environmental impact, indigenous peoples face **obstacles** in accessing **climate funding**.
The report proposes:
– Creation of indigenous-led financial mechanisms.
– Formal recognition of indigenous governance systems.
– Protection of data sovereignty over their territories.
## An urgent call for equity in climate action
The **UN** warns that, without these changes, the fight against **climate change** will continue to reproduce **patterns of exclusion**, endangering both **indigenous rights** and **global environmental goals**.
*Cover photo: UN News*
