Indigenous peoples and renewable energy: impacts, contestations, and collective action

Abstract

Although renewable energy (RE) transitions offer pathways to sustainability, their implementation often exacerbates existing injustices, particularly for Indigenous communities. This paper examines Indigenous peoples’ complex and evolving relationship with RE transitions through a systematic review of 87 peer-reviewed articles. It identifies three key thematic areas: (1) the impacts of RE transitions on Indigenous communities; (2) Indigenous contestations against harmful RE practices, where Indigenous communities have mobilized politically and legally to resist exploitative projects; and (3) Indigenous community energy as a new site of collective action, where Indigenous peoples are asserting sovereignty, fostering energy independence, and shaping sustainable energy models on their own terms. The findings suggest that Indigenous communities are active agents of change who navigate the tension between environmental sustainability and social justice. RE projects often impose disproportionate costs on Indigenous lands; however, Indigenous-led initiatives demonstrate the potential for more equitable and inclusive energy futures. The study underscores the need to recognize Indigenous rights and ways of knowing, ensure meaningful participation in decision-making, and support Indigenous-led innovations in energy governance.