New ICA Report: Critique of Federal Climate Policy Plans

Indigenous Climate Action, in collaboration with researchers Dr. Jen Gobby, Rebecca Sinclair, and Rachel Ivey, have released an in-depth critical analysis of Canada’s recent climate policy and plans: the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF) and A Healthy Environment, A Healthy Economy (HEHE). This is the first phase of a two part Decolonizing Climate Policy in Canada project. 

The aim of this work was to investigate whether these plans take aim at the root causes of climate change, while also respectfully and meaningfully including Indigenous Peoples and our rights, knowledges, and approaches to climate action. We also sought to examine the efficacy of the PCF and the HEHE in driving meaningful action towards stopping catastrophic climate change. 

In our research, we found that Indigenous Peoples were structurally excluded from the process of developing the PCF and the HEHE, thus violating the rights of Indigenous Peoples and conflicting with federal commitments to Nation-to-Nation, Inuit-Crown, government-to-government relationships, and the many Calls to Action emanating from federal inquiries and reports. Some of the solutions proposed ignore the realities faced by Indigeous Peoples in this country and overlook the structural inequalities continuously reproduced through colonial relations and oppressive structures in so-called Canada. Further, some of the proposed actions and initiatives in the PCF and the HEHE may lead to disproportionate negative impacts on Indigenous Peoples and violations of Indigenous rights. 

Those who produced the PCF and HEHE, not just the federal government, but also other policymakers and organizations, failed to respect Indigenous rights and sovereignty, and instead put forward climate policies that may serve to perpetuate the drivers and root causes of climate change (i.e. colonialism, capitalism, patriarchy).

Colonialism caused climate change. Indigenous rights are the solution.