Climate Week

This Climate Week, we were glad to attend events hosted by our partners Rainforest Foundation Norway and Rainforest Foundation US focused on supporting the people and communities protecting rainforests.

Direct access to climate finance for Indigenous Peoples and local communities was a major theme. Although Indigenous-led solutions are increasingly recognized, too little funding reaches the local organizations and governance systems that need it most. A session on Peru highlighted agreements involving MINAM, Profonanpe and Indigenous organizations that could help create a direct financing mechanism led by Indigenous communities.

Rainforest Foundation Norway convened donors and Indigenous organizations to discuss “fit-for-purpose” funding: funding that is flexible, accessible and built around local priorities. As aid budgets shrink, making sure resources reach communities in a useful and lasting way is more important than ever.

Other events explored deforestation drivers, including cattle and gold supply chains in the Amazon, and the role of companies, investors and policymakers in changing those incentives. Rainforest Foundation US’s event brought together Indigenous and local leaders to discuss the support and new approaches needed to help forests continue protecting our climate.

The message was clear: protecting rainforests means investing in the people who have safeguarded them for generations. Real climate progress depends on Indigenous rights, strong local leadership and funding that reaches communities directly.

We are grateful to Rainforest Foundation Norway and Rainforest Foundation US for bringing these events together and for their work alongside Indigenous and local communities.