Climate Change Solutions Update

Author: Coolearth

  • Indigenous forest fire brigades shortlisted for global climate award

    CARE, an Asháninka Indigenous organization in the Amazon, has been nominated for the 2026 Ashden Award for their Indigenous-led Integrated Fire Management strategy, PAAMARI. The project successfully combines Indigenous wisdom with satellite technology to prevent and reduce wildfires in the region, with no wildfires recorded in 2025. The project focuses on training community members as fire brigade members, using high-tech monitoring, and teaching safe burning practices. Winning the Ashden Award would allow for the expansion of this work, providing essential safety gear to volunteer Indigenous community fire brigade members. Indigenous Peoples are effective stewards of the rainforest and with the right tools and respect for traditional knowledge, they can protect this important ecosystem from the impacts of the climate crisis.

    https://www.coolearth.org/news/indigenous-forest-fire-brigades-shortlisted-for-global-climate-award/

  • How we built a basic income pilot directly with Indigenous communities

    A basic income pilot was launched in Asháninka communities in the Peruvian Amazon two years ago, co-created with Indigenous women's organizations to address the impacts of the climate crisis. The pilot utilized AidKit technology for simple data collection, empowering community-led monitoring and reflecting principles of trust, co-creation, respect for Indigenous autonomy, and community leadership in climate action. This approach highlights the importance of centering community leadership in climate solutions, particularly in Indigenous communities facing the effects of environmental change.

    https://www.coolearth.org/news/how-we-built-a-basic-income-pilot-directly-with-indigenous-communities/

  • How do Local Communities use data to protect the rainforest?

    Donations to Cool Earth this December will be doubled, supporting initiatives like the Rainforest Lab in Papua New Guinea, where Indigenous students like Liddie are trained to monitor and protect their rainforest from threats like illegal logging and climate change impacts. The lab empowers young people to become rainforest protectors and defend important carbon stores, strengthening the front line of rainforest protection. Matched donations will help more students in Wabumari find a path into conservation, enabling them to take an active role in protecting their territories and combating climate change. This initiative not only supports local communities but also contributes to the global effort to preserve vital ecosystems for future generations.

    https://www.coolearth.org/news/how-do-local-communities-use-data-to-protect-the-rainforest/

  • How one community is protecting 16,500 hectares of rainforest

    Cool Earth has partnered with the local community in Sololo, Papua New Guinea to protect their rainforest, which serves as a valuable carbon sink and essential resource for the community. By providing unconditional funding, Cool Earth enables the community to resist loggers and oil palm companies, preserving their traditional way of life and safeguarding the environment for future generations. This initiative highlights the importance of empowering indigenous peoples and local communities in climate solutions, as they are the real experts in rainforest protection and sustainable resource management. Through projects like the roofing iron initiative, communities can generate income, strengthen their homes against climate impacts, and contribute to the preservation of vital ecosystems.

    https://www.coolearth.org/news/best-rainforest-protection-in-papua-new-guinea/