Indigenous benefits and carbon offset schemes: An Australian case study

Catherine J Robinson, Anna R Renwick, Tracey May, Emily Gerrard, Rowan Foley, Michael Battaglia, Hugh P Possingham, David John Griggs, Daniel Walker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The nexus between human rights and the environment is a key issue for climate policymakers and Indigenous peoples around the world. We combine national spatial, social and biological datasets from Australia to describe where Indigenous carbon projects are happening, why Indigenous people are participating, and how effective these schemes might be at marrying Indigenous co-benefit, biodiversity and carbon emission mitigation goals. Our study shows that many Indigenous people engage in carbon offset schemes as part of their broader cultural responsibility for landscapes, and that they seek to grow the relationship between social and ecological benefits. It also highlights the challenges associated with designing carbon offset schemes that address the impacts of climate change and respond to Indigenous peoples’ world views about what is required to sustain cultural-social-ecological systems.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)129 - 134
Number of pages6
JournalEnvironmental Science and Policy
Volume56
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

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