Another year, another Climate COP.
Since the last one we have had a year when the global temperature topped the 1.5 degrees rise that the world’s climate scientists tell us bodes disaster. 2024 was the hottest year on record, 2025 joint second with 2023. 2026 looks set to exceed the 2024 record.
This confirms that we are well off the UNFCCC’s target. COP30 failed to be the turning point which we so desperately need, when the global community tips from denial to action. The giant fossils of the petrochem industry again managed to derail real progress.
If we are to avoid climate disaster Indigenous peoples have a major part to play. They are small in number, but occupy substantial areas of the remaining tropical forests. They need our support to manage and protect their forests.
Here’s an example. The Kayapó occupy an area only slightly smaller than the size of England. This map shows their territory, with the outline of England in bright green at the same scale:
Now imagine yourself in England. Fill the entire area of England with dense, almost impenetrable tree cover. Take away all of the roads and railways, but leave a very small number of dirt tracks, which become impassable when it rains. Now surround England with land, not sea, and imagine that land outside having an aggressive population intent on destroying the trees and taking possession of your land. Now figure out how you are going to protect that land – bearing in mind that your population is less than 10,000 individuals. Now you have some idea of the difficulties the Kayapó are facing.
Their budget for controlling their borders and managing their land is £1.2 million, which sounds like a lot – until you realise that the UK Border Force budget alone is £1.2 billion. The Royal Parks receive over £10 million, and the Dartmoor Authority £3.5 million. The global community is not willing to pay enough to protect this vital area of land, even though losing it would result in huge disruption to global climate systems, and even to ocean currents.
I have written a paper, which is published in International Affairs, the journal of Chatham House – https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiag124, which explains the funding issues facing frontline Indigenous Organisations. Here is an earlier version:
