Indigenous Groups Seek Direct Climate Funding

Indigenous leaders in Brazil and globally are demanding direct access to climate financing. They argue current systems prioritize extraction over stewardship and fail to adequately support those protecting vital ecosystems. Indigenous territories hold roughly 54% of the planet’s remaining intact forests, yet receive less than 1% of international climate finance directly.

Organizations like the Amazonian Indigenous Movement have created their own funds—Podáali, FIRN, and others—with full Indigenous governance. These funds support territorial protection, environmental monitoring, and sustainable resource management where state support is lacking. Despite proven capabilities, accessing major multilateral funds like the Green Climate Fund remains difficult due to bureaucracy and a lack of institutional trust.

Josimara Baré and Ludimar Kokama, speaking at COP30, emphasized the need for financial autonomy and a shift from dependency to partnership. The Brazilian government’s Tropical Forests Forever Fund allocates at least 20% of resources to Indigenous groups, though leaders say this is still insufficient. Work continues to reshape climate finance and ensure Indigenous voices shape policy.