Indigenous contestations of carbon markets, carbon colonialism, and power dynamics in international climate negotiations

Durmaz, Zeynep and Schroeder, Heike (2025) Indigenous contestations of carbon markets, carbon colonialism, and power dynamics in international climate negotiations. Climate, 13 (8). ISSN 2225-1154

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Abstract

This paper examines the intersection of global climate governance, carbon markets, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It critically analyses how Indigenous Peoples have contested the Article 6 market mechanisms of the Paris Agreement at the height of their negotiation during COP25 and COP26 by drawing attention to their role in perpetuating “carbon colonialism,” thereby revealing deeper power dynamics in global climate governance. Utilising a political ecology framework, this study explores these power dynamics at play during the climate negotiations, focusing on the instrumental, structural, and discursive forms of power that enable or limit Indigenous participation. Through a qualitative case study approach, the research reveals that while Indigenous Peoples have successfully used discursive strategies to challenge market-based solutions, their influence remains limited due to entrenched structural and instrumental power imbalances within the UNFCCC process. This study highlights the need for equitable policies that integrate human rights safeguards and prioritise Indigenous-led, non-market-based approaches to ecological restoration.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Data Availability Statement: The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 13 - climate action ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development) University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Climate Change Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Global Environmental Justice Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Globalisation and CSR
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	06 Aug 2025 16:30
Last Modified:	21 Aug 2025 00:34
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/100090
DOI:	10.3390/cli13080158

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