Our work with Indigenous Peoples and local communities

Working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities to tackle the global climate emergency

They manage and protect 40% of the planet’s ecologically intact landscape. Our ability to limit global warming to 1.5°C therefore depends on ensuring IPs and LCs can continue managing these vital ecosystems. This means they must be included in planning and implementing climate projects that impact their lives.

It is critical that we collaborate with IPs and LCs to make sure the voluntary carbon market functions in a way that protects and promotes their rights and livelihoods. This will in turn accelerate the supply of high-quality carbon credits from projects that impact and benefit them.

IPs and LCs play an important role in the key decision-making bodies of our governance framework. We actively engaged with IPs and LCs during the development of our Assessment Framework, and we are committed to ensuring they continue to have a strong voice in shaping our high-integrity CCP criteria.

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The Integrity Council recognises Indigenous Peoples and / or local communities as different and distinct peoples with discreet rights and interests as expressed in international and national instruments, and in traditional laws.

Governing Board

Since the establishment of the Integrity Council, three dedicated seats on its Board have been reserved for IPs & LCs voices.   

These seats are currently occupied by:  

• Jennifer Corpuz, Global Policy and Advocacy Lead for Nia Tero;  

• Dr. Francisco Souza, ICVCM Board Member; and  

• Dr. Kanyinke Sena, Director for the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee.  

As distinguished from industry representatives on our Governing Board, IPs & LCs members on our Governing Board are fully participating and voting members who are proactively engaged in shaping and approving decisions and outputs.

Expert Panel

The Expert Panel (EP), an advisory body which is also supported by a body of Subject Matter Experts, also benefits from independent members with significant expertise of working with IPs & LCs, including:

• Daniel Ortega-Pacheco, Co-Chair of the EP and Director of BIOCARBON

• Tuntiak Katan, an Expert Advisor and former General Coordinator of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities.

• Felipe de Leon, an independent Advisor and an international climate change consultant.

• Sue Phillips, Managing Director at Gender Tech Enterprises.

The Integrity Council are hosting a new IPs and LCs VCM Engagement Forum, now under development.

The IPs and LCs VCM Engagement Forum