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Centering Indigenous Rights in Southeast Asia’s Climate Transition

Southeast Asia stands at a critical juncture in its pursuit of sustainable development and climate resilience. As governments across the region race to meet global climate goals, investments in renewable energy, conservation initiatives, and resource extraction for green technologies are accelerating. Yet, for the region’s more than 100 million Indigenous Peoples—from the Orang Asli in Malaysia to the Dayak in Indonesia, the Hmong in Vietnam, and the Karen in Thailand—this green transition is too often experienced not as an opportunity, but as a new wave of “green colonialism.”

A study by the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP, 2016) documents how Indigenous communities across Southeast Asia face land dispossession, forced displacement, and exclusion from decision-making, as large-scale development proceeds. In Indonesia, research by Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN, 2022) found that 45% of green development projects—including hydropower dams and geothermal installations—were initiated without Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). In the Philippines, Indigenous communities resisting renewable energy projects in the Cordillera region have faced criminalization and red-tagging under national security laws (AIPP, 2016).

This context makes the attention to Indigenous rights in the T20 Communiqué (2023) particularly important. The Communiqué acknowledges FPIC as a cornerstone of international law and a vital element of rights-based development. However, translating this recognition into enforceable obligations remains a challenge. Regional legal frameworks in Southeast Asia, including ASEAN’s Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and the ASEAN Power Grid Initiative, rarely reference Indigenous rights, despite their direct implications for Indigenous territories (AIPP, 2016). Climate financing mechanisms from regional development banks also lack mandatory requirements for Indigenous consent.

Case Studies: Lessons from the Region
The disastrous legacy of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Dam in Brazil—a project that ignored Indigenous opposition and caused severe environmental and social harm—offers a stark warning. In Southeast Asia, the proposed Batang Toru hydropower project in North Sumatra, Indonesia, follows a similar pattern, threatening Indigenous Batak communities and the fragile habitat of the Tapanuli orangutan (Dialogue Earth, 2021). Despite community resistance, construction has progressed without fully respecting FPIC or conducting adequate social and environmental impact assessments.

Indigenous Mobilization and Legal Action
Southeast Asia’s Indigenous communities have increasingly turned to strategic litigation and coalition-building to defend their rights. In Malaysia, Orang Asli communities in Kelantan successfully blocked logging permits through the courts (Forest Peoples Program, 2014). In the Philippines, the Cordillera Peoples Alliance works closely with international human rights bodies to document violations linked to renewable energy projects (AIPP, 2016). In Indonesia, AMAN has led the mapping of over 10 million hectares of Indigenous customary land, helping communities secure some form of legal recognition (Shahab, N. 2016).

However, relying on ex-post legal action places Indigenous communities at an inherent disadvantage. Judicial processes are expensive, slow, and structurally biased in favor of state and corporate interests. A 2014 Forest Peoples Programme review found that Indigenous groups with independent legal and technical support were 45% more successful in negotiating beneficial outcomes compared to communities left to navigate the system alone (Forest Peoples Programme, 2014).

Three Urgent Reforms for a Rights-Based Green Transition
1) Embed FPIC in Law and Policy
Southeast Asian governments must legally mandate FPIC for all projects affecting Indigenous territories, including renewable energy, conservation, and carbon offset initiatives. International law, including UNDRIP, already enshrines this right (UN General Assembly, 2007), but national legal frameworks must explicitly incorporate and enforce it. Researches in Africa demonstrates that climate adaptation projects developed with early and genuine Indigenous participation achieved 28% higher success rates, proving that rights-based approaches are also pragmatic.

2) Empower Indigenous-Led Planning and Oversight
Development planning must shift from passive consultation to co-governance, with Indigenous communities leading the design, oversight, and monitoring of land-use decisions. This requires creating dedicated financial mechanisms to support community mapping, Indigenous impact assessments, and autonomous land registries. Evidence from the Forest Peoples Programme shows that co-designed projects reduced conflicts by 33% compared to externally imposed initiatives.

3) Institutionalize Indigenous Representation in Regional Climate Governance
Indigenous Peoples must have permanent seats within ASEAN climate and environment bodies, ensuring they help shape both policy frameworks and project approvals. The Aashukan Declaration (2017), developed by Indigenous leaders, already provides a blueprint for meaningful participation—emphasizing that communities must define their own consultation processes and terms of engagement.

Indigenous Knowledge: A Key to Resilience
Beyond rights, Indigenous ecological knowledge offers practical climate solutions rooted in centuries of sustainable land management. The Convention on Biological Diversity estimated that Indigenous-managed territories contain 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity. In Southeast Asia, customary systems such as Tayan rotation farming in Sarawak, subak water management in Bali, and agroforestry practices in the Philippines’ Cordillera demonstrate climate resilience in action (FAO, 2024). Mainstreaming these systems into national climate strategies would enhance both climate adaptation and cultural resilience.

Conclusion
Southeast Asia’s green transition will only succeed if it rejects its colonial past and embraces Indigenous leadership, rights, and knowledge as foundational pillars. By embedding Indigenous communities—who have the right to give or withhold consent to any project that may affect their lands, territories, resources, or cultural heritage-into law, funding Indigenous—led planning, and granting Indigenous Peoples permanent representation in regional governance, Southeast Asia can simultaneously advance climate action and Indigenous rights. Such an approach would not only align the region with international human rights standards, but also unlock locally-grounded solutions for climate resilience.

Picture: An Indigenous Suku Anak Dalam family living on an oil palm plantation during an interview on Indigenous ecological practices, conducted by DEEP En-Gender in Jambi. Photo taken by Sandra Tri Febiani (field assistant), December 2023

Dr. Sadar Ginting

Dr. Ginting's interests are in food systems and nutrition security among vulnerable communities in emergency settings and Indigenous communities facing forest degradation. He holds a Bachelor's and Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Sumatera Utara and a doctoral degree (Dr.PH) in Public Health from Naresuan University.

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Supporting Indigenous Children with Learning Equipment

Indigenous Right to Education / DEEP EnGender

Without access to basic learning materials, many SAD children struggle to develop essential literacy skills, further limiting their opportunities for growth. To help address this, YILA Academy is providing SAD children with essential learning equipment. Through this initiative, they receive books, writing materials, and other educational resources that support their literacy development. Beyond access to materials, this effort also fosters confidence and motivation, helping children overcome obstacles and see education as a positive and empowering experience.
Creating a more inclusive and supportive learning environment is key to ensuring that SAD children feel valued and encouraged. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to advocating for Indigenous rights to education, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, preserve their cultural heritage, and contribute to their community with pride.

Image: Holding a banner that reads “Rights to Education for Sustainability,” facilitators and children proudly display the learning materials they have received

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Bridging Gaps

Indigenous Right to Education / DEEP EnGender

As part of “Bridging Divides: Committed to the Indigenous Right to Education,” YILA Academy is dedicated to ensuring that Suku Anak Dalam (SAD) children have access to education in a way that respects their identity and culture. Many SAD children face bullying, discrimination, and stigma, making public schools feel unwelcoming and discouraging them from attending. Without access to formal education, they are often left without basic literacy skills, limiting their future opportunities.

To address this challenge, we promote the right of SAD children to formal schooling while creating a safe and supportive environment for learning. Through community-driven advocacy, collaboration with local schools, and informal literacy training, we help them build the confidence and skills needed to transition into formal education. Strengthening their connection to learning not only empowers them individually but also preserves their cultural heritage, ensuring that education becomes a bridge to both personal growth and community sustainability.

Image: Students and facilitators from YILA Academy stand together in support of "Bridging Divides: Committed to the Indigenous Right to Education", advocating for inclusive education for Indigenous SAD children.

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Engendering Indigenous Children through Education

Indigenous Right to Education / DEEP EnGender

Engendering Indigenous Children through Education

The majority of the Suku Anak Dalam (SAD) community, including their children, remain illiterate due to their historical way of life, which was deeply rooted in the forests with little to no access to formal or informal education. Even as some SAD families have settled near palm oil plantations, many children continue to face barriers to learning.

Without basic literacy skills, these children struggle to develop their potential, limiting their opportunities for personal growth and community development. To bridge this gap, our initiative provides informal education that equip SAD children with essential reading and writing skills. Beyond literacy, we focus on building their confidence and self-worth, creating a safe and supportive learning environment where they can thrive and embrace education as a pathway to a brighter future.

Image: Young SAD children engaged in a learning session with facilitators from YILA Academy

Date: 13 January 2025

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Empowering Indigenous Voices: A Data-Driven Policy Blueprint for Southeast Asia

Recent Posts #2 / DEEP EnGender

A 2018 report by the IWGIA revealed that nearly 47% of Indigenous communities are facing escalating conflicts linked to mining and logging operations. This situation underscores the urgent need for sustainable policies that honour indigenous traditions. In fact, a 2019 survey by the UNPFII found that 62% of indigenous groups feel that current policies are falling short of protecting their interests. Even though there have been some improvements, many challenges remain. For example, a 2020 study by the UNDP reported that 55% of indigenous communities continue to struggle with issues like geographical isolation and inadequate legal access. These obstacles hinder effective land claims and legal recognition, as World Bank data from 2019 show that 38% of indigenous territories have suffered displacement due to inadequate legal protections.

A major concern is the destruction of indigenous lands from extractive activities, with Global Forest Watch (2020) data indicating a 30% reduction in forest cover in some indigenous regions. Such activities have led to pollution, resource depletion, and deforestation—with the FAO (2018) reporting that 25% of indigenous lands now exhibit severe environmental degradation linked to mining and logging. Additionally, large-scale agricultural industries have compounded these issues; a 2017 report by the WRI documented that palm oil expansion has resulted in a 20% forest cover loss and displaced about 15% of local indigenous populations in affected areas. The encroachment on indigenous territories without proper consultation is also acute, as an ILO (2019) report found that 65% of land acquisitions in Southeast Asia occur without obtaining Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. Without adequate legal protection, a 2018 UNDP study revealed that only 35% of indigenous land claims have been formally recognized, leaving 65% of communities vulnerable to exploitation.

Integrating Indigenous wisdom into climate adaptation strategies offers promise—findings from Zougmoré et al. (2019) on Indigenous wisdom (knowledge and practices) indicate that areas using Indigenous wisdom can see up to a 28% improvement in adaptation outcomes. Indigenous communities have long relied on traditional knowledge for resource management; according to the CBD (2018), about 80% of these communities incorporate time-honoured practices to manage local ecosystems. These practices are especially vital in remote areas, where an ADB (2020) report shows that 60% of indigenous communities depend primarily on traditional systems because of limited government services. weADAPT in Indonesia launched a pilot project in 2018 that reached over 3,000 indigenous households—a 20% increase in community engagement compared to earlier initiatives. One such initiative, the School of Climate and Living Tradition established in 2019, trained more than 1,500 indigenous farmers and achieved an 18% improvement in reported crop resilience.

Picture: An elderly woman (Induk) of Indigenous Suku Anak Dalam during re-grow activity conducted by DEEP En-Gender in Jambi. Taken by Sandra Tri Febiani (fieldwork assistant), Dec 2023

However, threats to indigenous food sovereignty continue to rise—FAO surveys from 2020 indicate that 47% of indigenous communities have experienced a decline in traditional food sources over the past decade. Traditional farming systems, including rotational agriculture, are increasingly restricted, with data from the IFPRI (2019) showing that 32% of such practices have been curtailed by modern agricultural policies. The expansion of commercial agriculture has further altered land use; a 2023 study in the One Earth reported a 25% expansion of commercial farms in indigenous areas, impacting 40% of these regions. Moreover, the enforcement of intellectual property laws on agricultural products has limited seed sharing—findings from the ISF (2017) indicate that 30% of indigenous farmers have faced restrictions on seed exchange. Following the ratification of trade-related agreements, IFPRI (2019) observed a 15% reduction in seed diversity among indigenous populations, undermining the maintenance of traditional agricultural practices.

Conservation efforts, though well-intended, have sometimes excluded indigenous voices; Conservation International (2018) found that 55% of conservation projects in Southeast Asia did not involve indigenous stakeholders adequately, correlating with a 22% decline in local biodiversity. Governments and international organizations must ensure that conservation policies do not compromise indigenous rights—UNEP (2019) policy briefs show that 68% of indigenous leaders feel current conservation practices undermine their rights. Instead, indigenous-led conservation approaches, which integrate traditional ecological knowledge, have been shown to boost biodiversity by 15% compared to state-managed reserves, according to Zougmoré et al. (2019).

To uphold indigenous rights and promote sustainable resource governance, a 2019 UNPFII report revealed that 70% of indigenous representatives call for stronger legal frameworks. Legal frameworks should recognize indigenous land claims and customary laws—even though the UNDRIP (2021) has been endorsed by 144 countries, UNDP (2018) notes that only about 40% of Southeast Asian nations have fully implemented its guidelines. Extractive industries must engage in transparent consultations by following FPIC protocols; however, a 2022 report from the IIED found that only 38% of projects in the region adhere to these standards.

Climate adaptation strategies that incorporate Indigenous wisdom have proven effective—a 2022 ADB report shows that such integration leads to a 27% higher rate of successful adaptation. Furthermore, the IUCN (2021) reports that inclusive conservation approaches increase project success rates by 22% when indigenous knowledge is respected.

Addressing these multifaceted challenges requires collaboration between governments, corporations, environmental organizations, and indigenous leaders; World Bank research (2020) indicates that multi-stakeholder collaboration can reduce conflicts in indigenous territories by 33%. Ensuring indigenous participation in decision-making processes is critical, as UN (2020) data show that such involvement boosts community resilience by 20%. In addition, strengthening legal mechanisms to hold corporations accountable for environmental harm has, according to Global Witness (2020), resulted in a 30% increase in accountability measures in regions where such frameworks are enforced.

To achieve these goals, long-term strategies must be implemented; UNDP (2018) forecasts that comprehensive, sustained efforts could reduce indigenous land disputes by up to 35% over the next decade. Educational programs that empower indigenous youth in environmental stewardship have increased engagement by 40% in communities where they are active, as reported by UNESCO (2020). Capacity-building initiatives have also yielded positive results, with the IISD (2022) documenting a 22% improvement in indigenous self-governance metrics following targeted training programs. Strengthening alliances between indigenous movements and international human rights organizations can amplify indigenous voices, as Amnesty International (2021) observed a 30% boost in advocacy impact when such alliances are in place. Moving forward, comprehensive policy reforms and multi-stakeholder partnerships are essential—projections from the ADB (2022) suggest that these efforts could enhance indigenous rights outcomes by 28%. By recognizing the vital role indigenous communities play in environmental conservation, the WWF (2020) reports that indigenous-led initiatives contribute to an 18% greater ecological resilience compared to conventional conservation approaches.