Indigenous Climate Change Studies: Indigenizing Futures, Decolonizing the Anthropocene

2017
No items found.

Whyte names and maps an emerging field he provisionally calls 'Indigenous climate change studies', encompassing the work of Indigenous and allied scholars, knowledge keepers, scientists and leaders supporting Indigenous peoples' capacities to address climate change. The essay surveys Indigenous climate resiliency plans, policy documents, declarations and academic scholarship, arguing that climate change cannot be understood as a purely 'natural' phenomenon but must be situated within processes of extraction, dispossession and settlement that Indigenous communities have long resisted and theorised. Whyte frames Indigenous futurity and decolonisation as central, rather than peripheral, to understanding and responding to the climate crisis, offering a foundational orientation for the wider field.

Whyte names and maps an emerging field he provisionally calls 'Indigenous climate change studies', encompassing the work of Indigenous and allied scholars, knowledge keepers, scientists and leaders supporting Indigenous peoples' capacities to address climate change. The essay surveys Indigenous climate resiliency plans, policy documents, declarations and academic scholarship, arguing that climate change cannot be understood as a purely 'natural' phenomenon but must be situated within processes of extraction, dispossession and settlement that Indigenous communities have long resisted and theorised. Whyte frames Indigenous futurity and decolonisation as central, rather than peripheral, to understanding and responding to the climate crisis, offering a foundational orientation for the wider field.

Related resources

Thinking Space
Climate and ecological emotions
Climate justice & decolonising

Hosting and facilitating a Climate café listening circle (CCLC) training

Do you want to help build resilience in your community? Climate Cafe LIstening Circle (CCLC) Training builds the confidence, skills, and peer community to facilitate your own circles. Delivered as a structured programme over three sessions in closed cohorts, with ongoing supervision and support afterwards.

April 23, 2026
Harriet Sams
Jennifer Fendya, PhD
Peer supervision

Hosting and facilitating a Climate café listening circle (CCLC) training

Do you want to help build resilience in your community? Climate Cafe LIstening Circle (CCLC) Training builds the confidence, skills, and peer community to facilitate your own circles. Delivered as a structured programme over three sessions in closed cohorts, with ongoing supervision and support afterwards.

May 11, 2026
Working group

Hosting and facilitating a Climate café listening circle (CCLC) training

Do you want to help build resilience in your community? Climate Cafe LIstening Circle (CCLC) Training builds the confidence, skills, and peer community to facilitate your own circles. Delivered as a structured programme over three sessions in closed cohorts, with ongoing supervision and support afterwards.

May 21, 2026

Explore more resources

Browse the full Research and Resources library, more articles, papers, podcasts, and reading lists.

Browse the library

Join the community

CPA is built collaboratively, by members for members. If this work resonates, come and join us.

Find out about membership