The Government of Canada announced Sunday new funding to support Indigenous-led climate solutions in remote communities, helping them adapt to the impacts of climate change. The funding upholds the right to a healthy environment and contributes to the government and private sector’s obligations under the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
The initiative aims to reduce remote Indigenous communities’ reliance on diesel fuel, which contradicts Canada’s efforts to combat pollution under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The funding will support the communities to transition from diesel fuel to clean energy sources, thereby reducing pollution and protecting the rights of Indigenous communities to have a healthy environment. The funding also provides training and educational opportunities within Indigenous communities under the Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative.
Remote communities in Canada often rely heavily on diesel for electricity and heating in the winter. Transitioning away from fossil fuels in these communities is particularly expensive because of how remote they are, often requiring goods to be flown in during much of the year. Due to historical funding shortages in education and healthcare, Indigenous people face compounded discrimination in economic opportunities, resulting in a higher poverty rate than the general population. The expense of the green transition in remote communities, combined with less access to funding makes it difficult for remote Indigenous communities to transition away from diesel. This challenge is exacerbated by the rising cost of fossil fuels under Canada’s carbon pricing policy.
Although Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change because of their close relationship with the land, this relationship also gives them unique knowledge that puts Indigenous people in an excellent position to produce solutions that mitigate the impacts of climate change and help communities adjust.
The TRC, established as part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, between the government and Indigenous survivors of residential schools, outlines key steps for reconciliation, addressing the government’s role in the historical abuse and attempted assimilation of Indigenous peoples.
