International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

The German Federal Government should – in the scope of the envisaged energy transition – promise compliance with ILO Convention 169 and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and push through with an effective supply chain law. The mistakes made in connection with fossil-based energy sources must not be repeated – and the promise not to embark on a path of “green colonialism” must be adhered to.

Under the “traffic light coalition”, energy transition measures are picking up pace. However, photovoltaics, battery storage devices, and e-mobility are dependent on raw materials for which Germany is largely dependent on imports. Lithium and hydrogen are perfect examples for the dangers that come with the energy transition.

Approximately 85% of the global lithium resources can be found in the border region between Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. Lithium, which is already used to build smart phones and laptop computers, is absolutely indispensable for the energy transition. Forecasts show that the demand for lithium will multiply over the next few years. This will also lead to more pressure on indigenous communities that are affected by extraction projects. In most cases, the principle of free, prior, and informed consent is not adequately adhered to – as shown by court proceedings in Chile in 2022. In the region of Atacama, a court order was necessary to enforce the principle of prior, free, and informed consent of the affected communities with regard to a lithium project.

It is foreseeable that Germany will not be able to meet its energy needs through renewable energy generation in the country. The German hydrogen strategy aims to close this gap by importing hydrogen – from Brazil, Chile, and Namibia, among others.

Even though the German Federal Government has promised not to implement a strategy of “green colonialism”, the aforementioned plans are another threat to indigenous communities. ILO Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are not even mentioned in the bilateral contracts regarding hydrogen production.

Our demands: 
•    The German Federal Government should adopt a strategy for cooperation with indigenous peoples, based on ILO Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, guaranteeing comprehensive protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. 
•    All projects that affect the rights or interest of indigenous communities must take the principle of free, prior, and informed consent into consideration – in a comprehensive and transparent manner. 

Background
The Coordination Circle ILO 169 in Germany is a network of German civil society organizations, networks, and experts that advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples, human rights, protection of the rainforests, and aim to combat climate change. In 2019, the total number of members of indigenous peoples all over the world was 476 million – members of 6,000 different peoples. They are protecting around 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity. A total of 6.2 percent of the global population are members of indigenous peoples. At the same time, they account for 15 percent of the poor people of the world – and they are especially vulnerable due to extraction projects of transnational companies. Their habitats are being destroyed by unsustainable development policies. Their diverse cosmovisions and knowledge are part of the intangible world cultural heritage.

This press release is backed by the following members of the Coordination Circle ILO 169: 
Infostelle Peru e.V.
FIAN
INFOE e.V.
Society for Threatened Peoples 
René Kuppe – board member of the IWGIA
Menschenrechte 3000 e.V. 

Contact: 
Dr. Eliane Fernandes, expert on indigenous peoples: e.fernandes@gfbv.d