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COP31: Indigenous women leaders demand direct climate finance, biodiversity protection – EnviroNews
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More than 50 Indigenous women leaders from across the world on Sunday, November 8, 2026, presented a joint political declaration at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, calling for direct access to climate finance, biodiversity protection and greater participation in climate decision-making.
The declaration, organised by the International Indigenous Women’s Forum (IIWF), outlined five key priorities and five accountability benchmarks aimed at ensuring that governments translate their climate commitments into concrete actions that protect Indigenous Peoples’ rights and recognise the contributions of Indigenous women.
The women leaders, drawn from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Arctic, North America, Latin America and Eastern Europe, presented their collective position to governments and the international community.
According to the organisers, the declaration seeks to establish a roadmap for ensuring that Indigenous women’s rights, traditional knowledge and climate solutions are reflected in international climate policies, funding mechanisms and decision-making processes.
The initiative also highlights the disparity between the contributions of Indigenous communities to biodiversity conservation and the climate finance they receive.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) estimates that Indigenous Peoples and local communities receive only one per cent of climate funding, despite their significant role in protecting ecosystems and carbon stocks.
Similarly, 53 per cent of organisations surveyed by the Women’s Global South Alliance (WiGSA) reported receiving no core funding or obtaining less than 10 per cent of their total budgets through such support.
The organisers said the funding gap raises questions about how climate finance is allocated and why resources often fail to reach Indigenous communities and organisations leading conservation and climate solutions at the grassroots.
The declaration also drew attention to the limited participation of Indigenous women in climate decision-making, despite their contributions to ecosystem protection, sustainable food systems, the preservation of traditional ecological knowledge and the development of climate adaptation strategies.
The International Indigenous Women’s Forum (FIMI) is advocating for their contributions to translate into meaningful political influence, effective participation and access to resources needed to implement their proposals.
Another key issue is the protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights in the transition to clean energy.
The organisers warned that expanding energy, extractive and conservation projects could place additional pressure on Indigenous lands and communities where Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is not guaranteed.
They called for an equitable energy transition that respects Indigenous Peoples’ rights and ensures that affected communities participate meaningfully in decisions concerning projects on their territories.
The women leaders are also seeking greater recognition of non-economic losses and damages, including the destruction of Indigenous languages, traditional knowledge systems and cultural practices.
Beyond presenting their demands, the five accountability benchmarks proposed in the declaration are expected to provide a framework for monitoring governments’ progress on direct climate finance, recognition of Indigenous knowledge, participation in climate negotiations, protection of Indigenous rights and safeguards for Indigenous women human rights defenders.
The declaration was presented at 10 a.m. Türkiye time on Sunday, November 8, at COP31 in Antalya.
The initiative comes as Indigenous communities continue to advocate greater recognition of their role in addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity, while demanding that international climate commitments translate into accessible funding and tangible benefits for those on the frontlines of environmental protection.
