In a groundbreaking assembly in New York City, 87 Indigenous Peoples’ representatives from 35 countries convened for the Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the Just Transition, spanning from April 12 to April 14, 2024. With a unified voice, they raised the pressing issues surrounding the transition to renewable energy and its impact on Indigenous communities.

Throughout the conference, delegates emphasized their intrinsic connection to ecosystems and their rights to lands, territories, and resources as stewards of Mother Earth. They urgently called for a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy to combat the climate crisis, but they underscored the current approach’s failure to uphold justice, equity, and sustainability, particularly from Indigenous perspectives.

The conference concluded with a resolute commitment to advancing justice, equity, and sustainability in the renewable energy transition. Delegates issued a powerful declaration to prioritize Indigenous participation, ensure equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, and uphold Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in all energy transition initiatives. This declaration serves as a poignant reminder of the pivotal role Indigenous Peoples play in shaping the transition to renewable energy and the imperative to honor their rights in decision-making processes globally.d

Download the Full Declaration