Carbon cowboys, ignored ‘Indians’ and the wild, wild West(ern Amazon). The impact of climate change on indigenous peoples in Peru

Abstract

Climate change has transcended its status as a theoretical concept and emerged as a human-induced crisis. Industrial nations, in their relentless pursuit of profit and reliance on fossil fuels to drive economic growth, impose the most severe consequences on the world’s most disadvantaged populations, particularly Indigenous Peoples. Despite their minimal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, these communities bear a disproportionate burden due to their vulnerable geographic locations, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of climate resilience. This glaring injustice underscores the necessity of addressing climate change as integral to the advocacy for fundamental rights such as food, safe water, shelter, education, and healthcare. This research investigates the impact of climate change on Indigenous Peoples in the Peruvian Amazon, pinpointing the actors responsible for this injustice. It critically examines existing strategies designed to mitigate these impacts and evaluates their effectiveness. The findings highlight the international community's, particularly developed states’, culpability for insufficient action in addressing climate change. Since the signing of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, there has been a notable deficit in proactive measures to meet climate commitments. This study calls on states to empower and support Indigenous Communities in safeguarding their rainforests, aiding them in sustainable forest resource management, and implementing concrete measures before it is too late.