How indigenous resistance helps lower carbon emissions
A joint report with the Indigenous Environmental Network and Oil Change International show us how.
What does a radically liberated future truly look like? That is the kind of future indigenous communities across the United States and Canada continue to fight for — all while simultaneously lowering carbon emissions.
Anishinaabe land defender faces off against North Dakota police forces, Standing Rock 2016, photo courtesy of Indigenous Environmental Network
Indigenous resistance victories have stopped 0.8 billion metric tons of carbon pollution and estimated victories from current fights are expected to prevent another 1.6 billion tons — the equivalent of 400 new coal power plants — according to a new report jointly published by the Indigenous Environmental Network and Oil Change International. The report covers 21 currently delayed and or completely canceled pipelines that would have run through indigenous land, tar sands and national wildlife refuges, including the Trans Pecos gas pipeline, Jordan COVE LNG, Bayou Bridge oil pipeline, and the Permian Highway gas pipeline.
One project, the Energy East Oil Pipeline (a proposed tar sand), if successful, would have taken more than 1.1 billion barrels of sand through indigenous land and would have likely damaged unceded lands, air quality and waterways from western Canada to the northwestern part of the United States.
“The report is to embolden our frontline communities who are going up against multi-billion dollar corporations,” said Dallas Goldtooth, campaign organizer of the Indigenous Environmental Network. Released in August, the report details indigenous resistance across the United States and Canada. It is broken up into six key parts focusing on consent, criminalization, frontline battles, ending the fossil fuel era and more.
“We were not able to cover every single fight that is happening,” said Kyle Gracey of Oil Change International and a key co-author of the report. The report calculates total carbon emissions indigenous protest movements have stopped but only critically examines 26 frontline struggles — mainly some of the most headlined ones. Looking specifically at Turtle Island, successful infrastructure fights represent 12% of Canada’s annual pollution. In 2019, the report concludes that total US & Canada greenhouse gas pollution amounted to 6.6 billion metric tons.
The report seeks to create a better understanding of indigenous sovereignty and self-determination which Goldtooth describes as having full autonomy over “our land, bodies, water and our futures.” Indigenous sovereignty takes from spiritual culture, language and inherent relationships with the land. This kind of sovereignty lives even without modern governmental acknowledgement. Both Gracey and Goldtooth emphasize that the climate justice movement cannot continue to be carried by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) communities.
IEN and Oil Change International want the report to encourage law makers, organizers and everyday people to push for free, prior and informed indigenous consent to be put into practice and law. “This report is giving us an opportunity to celebrate,” he says.
Monday, October 11th is Indigenous People’s Day. From October 11th-15th, thousands of people will protest in DC with the People Vs. Fossil Fuel Campaign. Learn more here.
