Carbon Colonialism

study of Carbon Credits in Indigenous Areas

Abstract

In the face of worsening climate change, particularly due to global warming, global strategies to decarbonize the atmosphere are intensifying. It is in this context that carbon credit projects linked to the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) mechanism emerge. Although this initiative is promoted as a climate mitigation measure and considered a sustainable solution, criticism has been leveled at how it impacts traditional populations, especially indigenous communities. Brazil's vast forest area has been a major target of the carbon credit market, with projects widely implemented in the country. This factor attracts dozens of foreign investors interested in the commodification of nature, which often occurs to the detriment of the rights of traditional populations and the integrity of their lands. In this context, this research aims to analyze the extent to which the carbon credit market impacts the livelihoods of indigenous communities in Brazil, in light of the concept of carbon colonialism. The study's relevance lies in the need to understand the socio-environmental, cultural, and territorial challenges faced by these communities in the face of the growing commodification of nature in the country, specifically in the area known as the Legal Amazon. The methodology adopted includes documentary analysis and a literature review using the hypothetical-deductive method. The results and conclusions indicate that carbon credit projects, especially those linked to the REDD+ mechanism, represent a new form of domination over Indigenous communities in Brazil, under the guise of sustainable solutions to the climate crisis. Although the carbon market has recently been regulated, Law No. 15.042/24, it still lacks regulations that clearly and effectively guarantee the protection of Indigenous peoples' collective rights and respect for their self-protection