Clean Energy Transition Threatens Indigenous Land Rights Across 54% Of Mineral Sites

As the world races to adopt clean energy, Indigenous communities are paying a steep price. About 85% of lithium reserves sit on or near Indigenous lands globally. That means mining for batteries and solar panels often puts those communities at risk.

In Argentina’s Jujuy province, a recent constitutional reform reportedly made things worse. According to reports, the reform lets the state take over Indigenous lands for economic projects. It also may reduce water resources in the region. This means up to dozens of the 274 registered Indigenous communities there could be displaced. The Colla Indigenous communities in Pozo Colorado have already protested against land being divided up for lithium projects. There are allegations that government officials haven’t followed national or international laws requiring them to consult Indigenous people before taking action.

73 Indigenous communities in Argentina’s Jujuy province face displacement as lithium projects move forward without required consultation.

This isn’t just happening in Argentina. Across Latin America’s lithium triangle, land deals are moving forward despite protests. Governments promised to give communities official land titles but haven’t, in some cases, followed through. Indigenous environmental defenders who speak out face real dangers, including violence.

Green energy projects are also causing land grabbing in other parts of the world. Wind farms, solar arrays, and biofuel plantations can break up natural habitats. Indigenous people manage about 24% of Earth’s surface, and those lands hold around 80% of the world’s biodiversity. When extraction damages soil, water, and air on these territories, it’s not just a land issue. It’s an environmental one, too.

In Australia, fracking in the Beetaloo Basin is moving ahead despite reported opposition from Traditional Owners. In Canada, there’s a push to give Indigenous communities an ownership stake in renewable energy projects. That model aims to lead to smoother project development. Canada’s federal loan guarantee program, reportedly created in 2024, makes roughly up to $5 billion available to Indigenous communities seeking equity participation in energy projects.

Experts say that consulting Indigenous communities early, before projects are even planned, is key. Some groups in the U.S. are using tools like tribal land maps to flag areas where development shouldn’t happen. Tribal advisory committees are also being used to make sure Indigenous voices are part of energy decisions. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, spanning 57 Tribal Nations, has developed tools that prioritize consultation at concept stages, long before state or federal permitting begins.

The clean energy movement’s meant to help the planet. But for many Indigenous communities, it’s creating the same problems as the industries it’s replacing. Greenland’s Indigenous communities face similar pressures, as the island’s vast estimated mineral wealth attracts mounting interest from global superpowers racing to secure critical resources.

✅ Claims in this article were verified using AI-assisted fact-checking.