People
// Hidden Stories Series
A spotlight on Archana Soreng: Amplifying Indigenous voices for a sustainable future
June 12, 2023
Indigenous Climate Advocate, UN Youth Advisory Member, and Voice of Odisha's Kharia Tribe.
Archana Soreng was born into the Kharia tribe of Odisha, India, an Indigenous community with a rich legacy of stewarding the Earth's biodiversity. Elevated to global prominence as a passionate climate activist, she now champions the intrinsic role of Indigenous communities in shaping climate action, wielding influence from local traditions to global decision-making tables.
Climate Change
Indigenous
Youth Justice
Spotlight
An emblematic voice from India's Kharia tribe, Archana Soreng transcends borders, advocating for the pivotal role of Indigenous communities in forging sustainable climate solutions.
While Indigenous communities make up only 5 percent of the global population, they safeguard over 20 percent of Earth’s land and 80 percent of its biodiversity.
Indigenous communities have long served as stewards of our planet’s land and biodiversity, with their sustainable practices preserving ecosystems for generations.
Among them is climate activist Archana Soreng, hailing from the Kharia tribe in Odisha, India.
For years, these communities have faced marginalisation and stereotypes, with their traditions and cultures deemed underdeveloped or backward. However, there has been a recent shift with recognition of the rights and perspectives of Indigenous people, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) acknowledging their crucial role in preserving ecosystems and forests in its 2019 report.
Indigenous communities have long served as stewards of our planet’s land and biodiversity, with their sustainable practices preserving ecosystems for generations.
Among them is climate activist Archana Soreng, hailing from the Kharia tribe in Odisha, India.
For years, these communities have faced marginalisation and stereotypes, with their traditions and cultures deemed underdeveloped or backward. However, there has been a recent shift with recognition of the rights and perspectives of Indigenous people, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) acknowledging their crucial role in preserving ecosystems and forests in its 2019 report.
Indigenous people, young people should be the leaders of climate actions, not victims of climate policies.
Archana Soreng, Climate Activist, India
Protecting their rights becomes crucial for enabling their full participation in climate action efforts.
Archana emphasises that Indigenous and young people should lead climate actions rather than being treated as mere victims of climate policies. Tokenising their participation is insufficient given how integral they are to the policymaking and implementation processes due to their expertise — traditional knowledge and practices contribute to climate action while keeping their ecological footprint low.
Indigenous communities worldwide, from the Arctic to Antarctica, manage communal lands, natural resources, and ecosystems that sustain the lives and livelihoods of 2.5 billion people globally. Unfortunately, these communities are disproportionately affected by the loss of wildlife and plants, droughts, and erratic weather patterns, which severely impact their food systems.
They have long fought against destructive practices such as deforestation, land grabbing, and extractive industries like oil and gas extraction. The vulnerability they face is exacerbated by the impacts of the climate crisis.
Such communities are often those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis, yet are heavily affected by it, raising questions around social injustice as those who bear the least responsibility suffer the most.
Protecting their rights becomes crucial for enabling their full participation in climate action efforts. Archana emphasises the importance of recognising and safeguarding the rights of Indigenous people over their lands, forests, and territories, allowing them to actively contribute to climate action.
Indigenous communities worldwide, from the Arctic to Antarctica, manage communal lands, natural resources, and ecosystems that sustain the lives and livelihoods of 2.5 billion people globally. Unfortunately, these communities are disproportionately affected by the loss of wildlife and plants, droughts, and erratic weather patterns, which severely impact their food systems.
They have long fought against destructive practices such as deforestation, land grabbing, and extractive industries like oil and gas extraction. The vulnerability they face is exacerbated by the impacts of the climate crisis.
Such communities are often those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis, yet are heavily affected by it, raising questions around social injustice as those who bear the least responsibility suffer the most.
Protecting their rights becomes crucial for enabling their full participation in climate action efforts. Archana emphasises the importance of recognising and safeguarding the rights of Indigenous people over their lands, forests, and territories, allowing them to actively contribute to climate action.
Indigenous and young people, who contribute significantly to climate action, are disproportionately affected...their voices and perspectives must be heard.
In 2021, at the Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, governments pledged $12 billion to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. To support the expertise and efforts of Indigenous communities in conserving forests, $1.7 billion was allocated. While such commitments are encouraging, it is vital to embrace Indigenous traditions and practices and advocate for their meaningful involvement in decision-making processes regarding climate action.
In 2020, Archana, selected by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to join his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, emphasised the significance of embracing identity and preserving traditional knowledge and practices. Indigenous and young people, who contribute significantly to climate action, are disproportionately affected by climate change and their voices and perspectives must be heard and considered in climate decision-making processes.
Archana has regularly championed how each person has a unique role to play in climate action. Our collective efforts, diverse voices, and contributions are crucial in tackling the current crisis. By recognising the leadership of Indigenous communities and empowering them to shape climate policies, she believes we can create a more just and sustainable future for all.
In 2020, Archana, selected by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to join his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, emphasised the significance of embracing identity and preserving traditional knowledge and practices. Indigenous and young people, who contribute significantly to climate action, are disproportionately affected by climate change and their voices and perspectives must be heard and considered in climate decision-making processes.
Archana has regularly championed how each person has a unique role to play in climate action. Our collective efforts, diverse voices, and contributions are crucial in tackling the current crisis. By recognising the leadership of Indigenous communities and empowering them to shape climate policies, she believes we can create a more just and sustainable future for all.
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