Four years ago, Harvard University has transferred a long -planned solar engineering project from Arizona to Sápmi, and the country of deaf peoples through what is now known as Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Al -Sami had no idea that he was coming.
“We did not know the plans until we were alerted before [Indigenous Environmental Network] “You should be aware of this,” said Sámii Council member.
Blind said it is unlikely to ignore Harvard’s consultation of Sámi about the project before he was transferred to Kiruna, Sweden. Most likely, you think, they were not aware that they needed it.
“At the same time, you don’t need a lot of research to know that Kiruna is in Sáphi, and that there are people from the indigenous people,” Peron said. “There is one of the indigenous people in Europe, and this is the chest people, and we are not unknown.”
The idea behind solar geological engineering is to fight global warming by reflecting sunlight to space with chemical particles sprayed in the atmosphere. Known as Experience the disorder subject to censorshipOr Scopex, the Harvard project had tried to disperse these chemicals on Sámi. But this type of climate manipulation contradicts the traditional conventional beliefs about nature care, the Sámi Council wrote in an open letter to Harvard, which called for the end of the program. In decisive, Harvard also failed to inform the people of Sámi about the project or obtain their approval before starting it, as the council indicated their violation The right to freedom, prior and enlightened The rights stipulated in international law. Harvard’s SCOPEX actors did not respond to suspension requests.
Sámi is not alone in the experience of such violations and joining the ranks of the indigenous peoples that depend on international law to challenge “climate solutions”, such as Scopex, in its territory.
For the third year in a row, the original population leaders called for a permanent endowment on the carbon markets, carbon displacement, and geological engineering techniques in The Permanent Forum of the United Nations on the issues of the indigenous populationUNPFII. They also called for the end of all carbon market initiatives within the United Nations, such as Redd+A $ 5 billion payment scheme aimed at protecting forests through private investment in the carbon market. That call, led by the original environmental network, or IN, and supports it American Indian Law AllianceA non -profit organization of the indigenous population, which is now strengthened IN report This documents multiple cases, as the carbon market, carbon displacement, and geological engineering have violated the rights of indigenous peoples, and the indigenous people have challenged them. With the expansion of carbon markets in the homelands of the indigenous people, defenders hope that these battles for the rights of the indigenous population, in Sáphi and beyond, provides a road map to stop a growing industry from the exploitation of indigenous peoples.
Depending on how a carbon displacement project works to reduce climate change in design and size, it generates a certain number of carbon balances – carbon market currency. This allows pollutants To compensate for their emissions by buying these credits – Governments, companies and organizations push to isolate or remove carbon with things like Geological engineering or Restore and preserve forests. The land of indigenous peoples Often the target For these efforts, given that they manage or have rights to possession 40 percent of the world’s landscapes in the world. Since these healthy ecological systems are major sites for such work, the original peoples who live there can be at a speedy interlocking or affected by the developing carbon market – often without their knowledge or consent.
Tail Irvin / GRIST
Details of the iEN report nine cases of “lawsuits, official complaints, and public advocacy” where the original peoples, such as Sámi, have a declaration of the United Nations on the rights of indigenous peoples, known as UNRIP, to confront and resist initiatives that threaten their lands and welfare.
“I think it is positive for Undrip to be used,” said Blind. “Every time it is cited and gets recognition, and this builds legitimacy. And when we use it boldly, confidently and do so together, which builds legitimacy.”
He passed in 2007 by the United Nations, Undrip contains 46 articles appointed The criterion for recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples, their protection and promotion. IEN’s study reveals that more than a third of them has been violated by climate solution projects. Repeated violations include the lack of transparency from companies, countries and organizations about their work, and their sowing intentionally within the original societies, increasing violence and monitoring of the original peoples, and violations to free, pre -and enlightened approval.
For some indigenous societies, carbon markets offer an opportunity to develop their economies and exercise their own rights. It is a profitable industry: The volunteer carbon market witnessed $ 16.3 billion in financing by the end of 2024.
Francesca Helere, a member of the Indian Rowand Valley tribe in California, is the director of partnerships at the original greenhouse gas removal committee, or IGGRC, a group of countries in the United States working to reduce climate change through the carbon market.
Hilli said that carbon displacement projects in forests or restoring the ecosystem are often in line with the original values and benefiting from indigenous population societies. But the main benefit of the tribes is the financial capabilities. Hilri said that the tribes in the United States need resources to manage their governments, and carbon markets may provide opportunities for economic growth. In 2015, California The first carbon displacement project on the land of the indigenous population It was developed on the ground of the Round Valley tribe.
“I understand that there is this complete criticism against the commodity of nature,” said Hilri. “I only think the tribes are looking for solutions for a group of different phenomena.”
But for other original societies, the expansion of carbon markets raises concerns, especially since some projects have already led The indigenous peoples are evacuated from their lands or a promise of incomparable financial compensation. In Peru, for example, the Kurdira Azul National Park was created without the approval of the Kishua people and other indigenous societies whose lands overlap. Then, the Peruvian government was sold, Sima, non -profit to operate the garden, sold More than 28 million carbon credit hours for the project. According to IN, the Peruvian government and CIMA refused to recognize Kichwa Land claims with the use of carbon credit sales simultaneously in the park. in Analysis of reports that separate the effects of the carbon marketThe carbon summary on Outlet Outlet found that more than 70 percent of the reports documented evidence of carbon compensation projects that harm the indigenous population and local societies.
All court cases stated in the IEN report are the indigenous people who use Undrip to fight against Carbon markets. But Joanna Capello, a great researcher with SumoThe Netherlands -based organization, which is looking for multinationals and their effects on individuals and environments, said that the provisions that support the rights of original lands still serve as a blessing for societies that may welcome carbon projects. The same logic that supports the rights of the original lands allows them to choose what they want to do with this land, including joining the carbon market.
“Confession [Indigenous] Rights are always a strong starting point for any kind of [carbon market] The project, because this means that they have the right to say no to the proposal as well as to hold companies or organizations accountable for a responsibility project. ”
Capello studied carbon displacement projects for more than 20 years and said that while these markets violate the rights of the indigenous population “not news.” More courts judge for the benefit of indigenous societiesAnd this is not usually the case.
In 2020, Kichwa filed a lawsuit against the Peruvian government, competing for its refusal to recognize the original regional rights, establish a project to preserve their lands without approval, and systematic exclusion from decision -making regarding or receiving financial advantages from carbon credit sales. in 2023 and 2024The court agreed with Kichwa, and became the first judicial rulings in Peru estimated and supported the original regional rights.
Capello said: “It is hoped that societies are able to reach these provisions, and the more governments – even if they are not at the national level, but the municipal level or the regional level – can begin to verify those who really benefit from these projects in their areas.” “We hope that some will stand more with the rights of the original peoples.”
Although it is just one tool, Capello said that Undrip’s use is like this indicates that indigenous population societies can condemn the abuse of use can be able to confess meaning – and the industries tell that people watch their work.
Likewise, the message issued by the Sámi Council to Harvard, calling for the end of Scopex the risks and violations related to such a project. It is not only necessary to obtain approval of activities on their lands, the indigenous people are right, and the SAMI Council mentioned the university, maintaining their spiritual relationship and strengthening them with their traditional lands, supporting their responsibilities for future generations, and making decisions on regions and resources under their supervision, including air.
After the ongoing opposition, it was the Harvard University solar project End in March 2024.
“This is something, because we do not have many other examples of a huge institution like Harvard who declined after criticism from the original peoples,” Peron said, noting that this case has been successfully dealt with outside the court.
“It is important to see that it is actually an option to stop something when you realize that it has not been done correctly.”
