The push for renewable energy and critical mineral mining is creating a conflict between global decarbonization goals and the protection of intact forests. In Southeast Asia, large scale projects often displace Indigenous communities and destroy carbon sinks to make room for solar farms, wind turbines, and copper mines. This tension highlights a critical gap in climate policy, where the urgency of the green transition can lead to environmental degradation and human rights abuses. Protecting Indigenous land rights is essential for maintaining the world's remaining carbon-absorbing forests.
