The global transition to a green economy is accelerating, driven by the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. This transition is not occurring in a vacuum, however; it has profound implications for Indigenous Peoples, whose lands and livelihoods are increasingly targeted for resource extraction and renewable energy projects. Renewable energy, electric vehicles, and “green” mining are being promoted as solutions to the climate crisis. But if history repeats itself, these industries will expand at the expense of Indigenous lands, rights, and sovereignty.

The Just Transition: Indigenous Peoples’ Perspectives, Knowledge and Lived Experiences Summit (the summit from hereon) was a response to this challenge. On 8-10 October 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland, Indigenous delegations from all seven socio-cultural regions came together to address the pressing question: How do we ensure the green economy does not become another chapter of exploitation but instead a turning point for justice?

Indigenous voices have often been excluded from the high-level negotiations that determine how resources are extracted and who benefits. For the industrial modern world, the green economy is a golden opportunity—for Indigenous Peoples, it is yet another existential threat wrapped in sustainability slogans.

This summit marked a historic milestone as the first Indigenous-led gathering on reshaping the green economy. For the first time, Indigenous Peoples came together to set the agenda, define priorities, draw lines and engage directly with global stakeholders on their own terms. And, this time, they entered the discussion as recognized partners and rightsholders.