Why London Climate Action Week needs Indigenous leadership on the agenda

As London Climate Action Week 2026 begins, a critical flaw remains in global climate policy.

The Indigenous peoples and local communities protecting the world’s rainforests are too often excluded from the conversations shaping climate action and receive less than 1% of climate finance directly.

Every year, London Climate Action Week brings together businesses, policymakers, investors, and campaigners to discuss solutions to the climate crisis. Yet while rainforest communities are frequently discussed in these spaces, the people protecting these ecosystems are rarely present in the room.

This matters because Indigenous peoples and local communities are among the world’s most effective rainforest protectors. Their stewardship helps safeguard biodiversity, store vast amounts of carbon, and protect rainforests that are essential for a stable climate.

The people protecting rainforests should not be treated as an afterthought in climate policy. They should be leading the conversation.

Why is Indigenous leadership critical for rainforest protection?

For decades, climate and conservation policies affecting rainforests have often been designed far from the communities most impacted by them.

Despite clear evidence that Indigenous-led forest protection works, funding rarely reaches these communities directly. Instead, climate finance is commonly channelled through multiple intermediaries before reaching the people on the frontline.

The result is a significant gap between those making decisions and those living with the consequences.

This gap isn’t just unfair; it’s ineffective.

The people who know rainforests best are the people who call them home. Indigenous communities hold generations of knowledge about managing forest ecosystems and are already delivering climate solutions every day.

If global climate action is to succeed, Indigenous leadership must move from the margins to the centre of decision-making.

What is Cool Earth doing at London Climate Action Week 2026?

During London Climate Action Week 2026, Cool Earth is supporting Indigenous leaders from rainforest regions to engage directly with UK policymakers and decision-makers.

On 22 June, Indigenous leaders will join Cool Earth and members of the NGO Forest Coalition for a peaceful demonstration in Westminster. The gathering will highlight the urgent need for greater support for Indigenous-led rainforest protection and stronger accountability around international climate finance commitments.

As part of the action, Indigenous leaders and partner organisations will deliver an open letter to UK ministers calling for greater transparency around rainforest funding pledged at COP26 and increased direct finance for Indigenous Peoples and local communities protecting tropical forests.

Throughout London Climate Action Week, Indigenous leaders will also meet with MPs, parliamentarians and government officials to share first-hand experiences from the frontline of the climate crisis and discuss the solutions already working in their communities.

These conversations help ensure climate policy is informed by the people with the greatest experience of protecting forests.

How does direct climate finance help tackle the climate crisis?

While events and demonstrations can help raise awareness, long-term change requires a systemic solution.

At Cool Earth, we believe one of the most effective climate solutions is also one of the simplest: getting funding directly to the people protecting rainforests.

When Indigenous Peoples and local communities have direct access to climate finance, they can make decisions based on local priorities and protect rainforests on their own terms.

Direct climate finance helps reduce bureaucracy, increases accountability to communities and ensures resources reach the people delivering real climate impact.

When communities have both funding and influence, forests are better protected, biodiversity thrives and climate action becomes more effective.

How can you support Indigenous leadership during London Climate Action Week 2026?

If you believe climate finance should reach the people protecting the world’s rainforests, there are several ways you can take action during London Climate Action Week:

Share the Westminster demonstration

Follow Cool Earth’s social media and share content from the demonstration to help more people understand why Indigenous leadership matters.

Raise awareness of direct climate finance

Talk about the climate finance gap with colleagues, friends and networks. The more people understand the issue, the harder it becomes for decision-makers to ignore.

Support rainforest communities directly

Donate to support Cool Earth’s work delivering direct climate finance to Indigenous Peoples and local communities protecting rainforests on the frontline of the climate crisis.

Climate action works best when the people closest to the problem are trusted to lead the solution. This London Climate Action Week 2026, help ensure Indigenous voices are heard where decisions are being made.