Indigenous Climate Action's Research Guides the Way to Just, Indigenous Led Climate Solutions

Indigenous Climate Action (ICA) is an Indigenous-led organization guided by a diverse group of Indigenous knowledge keepers, water protectors and land defenders from communities and regions across what is called Canada. Earth Rising is a proud supporter of ICA’s belief that Indigenous Peoples’ rights and knowledge are critical for just climate solutions. 

With the support of Earth Rising Foundation, this past year ICA released the latest report from the ongoing Decolonizing Climate Policy Project. The report titled ‘Land Back is Climate Policy Phase 2 of Part 2 of ICA’s Decolonizing Climate Policy Project’ investigates the shortcomings and problems associated with Canadian climate policy while also demonstrating the strengths of solutions developed and led by indigenous people. The findings emphasizes that Indigenous ways of knowing and being are powerful climate solutions. The report helps envision a climate movement that centers Indigenous leadership and values relationships with land and water as the foundation of climate policy. 

The report outlines six pathways for restoring balance as listed below: 

1. Center Indigenous ways of knowing and being

2. Respect Indigenous self-determination, sovereignty and consent

3. Redistribute power, wealth and land

4. Decentralize climate governance

5. Build intersectional, international movements

6. Ensure accountability and reparations.

The second major outcome of this project was the successful hosting of the ICA Decolonizing Climate Policy 2.2 Report Launch webinar on June 5, 2025. The event featured a discussion of the findings and created space for dialogue on the future of Indigenous-led climate work. The virtual launch was moderated by ICA staff member Alexa Metallic, with panelists Bren Henderson, Sunshine Dunstan, and Deb McGregor. 

The third major outcome this past year was the publication of a report on Nature-Based Climate Solutions. Through a multi-stage, mixed method research process, this report examines Nature based Climate Solutions (NbCS), which when based in mainstream settler-led ideas, fails to respect Indigenous rights and reinforces colonial control. Despite these challenges, Indigenous communities are choosing when and how to engage with NbCS to achieve their own goals. These efforts demonstrate that Indigenous engagement with NbCS can be a vehicle for community empowerment.

Going forward, ICA will continue to work on their Decolonizing Climate Policy research. We at Earth Rising are eager to see the findings of their future work and to see the impact of this work in empowering and advancing Indigenous led climate solutions. 

To learn more about ICA and support their work visit their website here.