Tell the World Bank: Fund Indigenous Climate Solutions Now

Indigenous communities around the world are already protecting forests, defending biodiversity, and developing solutions to the climate crisis.

But the people doing some of the most important work to protect the planet are too often shut out of the funding meant to fight climate change.

Indigenous leaders are showing what works. In Ecuador, Shuar communities are using territorial governance to fight deforestation, illegal logging, and mining. In Malaysia, Indigenous communities are drawing on traditional systems to sustainably manage natural resources. Across the world, Indigenous peoples are mapping and defending their territories against destruction.

These efforts don't just protect Indigenous lands and livelihoods. They protect forests that store carbon, preserve critical ecosystems, and help make communities more resilient to a rapidly changing climate.

Yet Indigenous communities still face enormous barriers to accessing climate and conservation funding.

The World Bank knows this is a problem. It has recognized Indigenous peoples as essential partners in protecting forests, preserving biodiversity, and confronting climate change. It has also acknowledged the need to make financing more directly accessible to Indigenous communities.

Recognition isn't enough.

Too much international climate funding still passes through layers of governments, institutions, corporations, and outside organizations instead of going directly to the communities protecting these lands.

That means Indigenous peoples can be forced to navigate bureaucratic systems just to access resources for solutions they have already shown can work.

And with forests disappearing and the climate crisis accelerating, we cannot afford to sideline the people already demonstrating how to protect some of the world's most important ecosystems.

Climate funding should empower Indigenous communities — not undermine their sovereignty or leave them dependent on outsiders to decide how resources are spent.

Please sign the petition telling World Bank President Ajay Banga to put more climate resources and decision-making power directly into the hands of Indigenous peoples.

The petition to World Bank President Ajay Banga reads: Dramatically increase direct-access climate financing for Indigenous peoples and ensure Indigenous communities have meaningful control over how those resources are used. Uphold Indigenous rights and sovereignty in World Bank-funded climate and conservation projects, and remove unnecessary barriers that prevent Indigenous communities from accessing funding for their proven climate solutions.
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Sources:

https://news.mongabay.com/2026/08/this-is-whats-working-indigenous-leaders-on-environment-solutions-in-their-communities/

https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/indigenous-knowledge-crucial-fight-against-climate-change-heres-why


Photo: UNDP Tanzania / Phil Kabuje