Event Host: Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP) and UNDP
Date: September 20, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT
Location: UNDP Building, 304 E. 45th St., New York
Registration Link: Click here to register

Event Summary

Indigenous Peoples are at the forefront of preserving biodiversity and hold the key to sustainable resource management practices. Yet, they often remain overlooked in the global transition to green and renewable energy sources. The event “Advancing Indigenous Peoples Led Solutions for a Just Transition” aims to shed light on the critical role Indigenous Peoples play in preserving biodiversity and how their sustainable resource management practices can provide access to much-needed renewable energy.

Hosted by the Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this event will delve into the challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples in renewable energy access and highlight the importance of recognizing and respecting their collective rights in achieving climate targets.

Event Description

Despite being a significant proportion of the rural poor with limited access to energy, Indigenous Peoples often face invisibility when it comes to energy access. Large-scale energy projects disproportionately disadvantage Indigenous communities, leading to land displacement, conflicts, destruction of livelihoods, and environmental degradation. Indigenous Peoples’ sustainable resource management practices have the potential to provide a more sustainable source of energy, especially for off-grid communities without access to electricity.

Indigenous Peoples are already engaging in innovative renewable energy solutions, making them crucial contributors to solving clean energy access challenges and meeting climate targets. The Right Energy Partnership (REP) is a pioneering Indigenous-led initiative that promotes a rights-based approach to renewable energy development, focusing on equity and empowering Indigenous women and communities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and protect the planet.

To support community-led renewable energy projects, REP has partnered with the UNDP through their Small Grants Programme (SGP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to address Indigenous communities’ energy needs.

The Event Aims to:

• Highlight Challenges: Shed light on the challenges Indigenous Peoples face in renewable energy projects and the mining of transition minerals, which adversely impact their rights.
• Showcase Initiatives: Highlight the experiences and initiatives of Indigenous Peoples in establishing and managing their own renewable energy systems.
• Build Partnerships: Generate support and partnerships from various stakeholders for Indigenous-led energy systems.

Tentative Agenda

1:00 PM – 1:05 PM: Preliminaries
1:06 PM – 1:10 PM: Opening Remarks by Terence Hay Edie
1:11 PM – 1:20 PM: Indigenous Peoples and the Green Transition by Adrian Lasimbang
1:21 PM – 1:40 PM: Promoting Sustainable and Rights-Based Renewable Energy Systems

• Presentation by Navajo Power
• Presentation by Canada

1:41 PM – 2:00 PM: Strengthening Recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the Green Transition

• Presentation by Colombia
• Presentation by New Zealand

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Discussion and Closing Remarks

Join us on September 20, 2023, to learn, discuss, and support the vital role of Indigenous Peoples in shaping a just transition to renewable energy and a sustainable future. Register now to secure your spot at this impactful event!