Understanding the Threat of Green Colonialism

Honor the Earth is excited to host our first-ever No Green Colonialism School at the end of this month. We are convening 15 participants over four days to build out their capacity for community organizing against the so-called “green energy transition,” which includes metal/mineral extraction on Indigenous lands.

The school is the latest effort in our long-standing fight against Green Colonialism.

Green Colonialism, a term that stems from Indigenous international spaces, refers to so-called sustainability projects and energy projects that claim to benefit the environment while threatening the health and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples across the globe. In most cases, the “green energy transition” is not put forth as a means to benefit people or the planet. Rather, its purpose is to perpetuate capitalism, imperialism, the military industrial complex, and war.

The threat of Green Colonialism is significant. Among key “energy-transition” metals, 97% of nickel, 89% of copper, 79% of lithium and 68% of cobalt reserves and resources in the United States are located within 35 miles of Native American reservations. Worldwide, 54% of energy transition minerals are located on or near land owned by Indigenous groups. 

These mines were historically – and presently – developed without the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent of Indigenous peoples, as required by international law. Across Turtle Island and around the globe, we’ve already seen tribal lands polluted and communities destroyed by so-called Green energy projects.

These lands are treated as Sacrifice Zones, regions where the health and safety of one community is sacrificed for the supposed prosperity of others. Under colonial and capitalist thinking, these zones are considered necessary collateral in the pursuit of “progress.” Green Colonialism is the repackaging of these same settler-colonial and imperial tactics that displaced and harmed Indigenous communities and destroyed the land, beginning in 1492. Instead of ships or forts, we are being sold the idea of a capitalistic and extractive solution to the climate crisis with the word “Green” added. 

Green Colonialism is an obstacle to environmental justice. True environmental justice must center Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and, Free Prior and Informed Consent, and Land Back.

We refuse to let any more Indigenous Lands become Sacrifice Zones.  

We’ll be sharing more details about the fight against Green Colonialism throughout this month leading up to our inaugural No Green Colonialism School.

Do you have any questions about Green Colonialism? Email us at info@honorearth.org and we’ll share answers in the coming weeks!