For Indigenous Peoples worldwide, the health of the land and their communities are intertwined. While Indigenous Peoples are among those who have contributed the least to climate change, they are disproportionately impacted by the negative health-related impacts of climate change.
The WHO Systematic Review: Indigenous Health and Climate Change was commissioned to explore the connections between Indigenous health, well-being, environments, biodiversity, and climate change, with a focus on gender considerations. Recognizing the complex processes related to settler/industrial colonialism and environmental dispossession, the team conducted an umbrella systematic review of existing literature to synthesize knowledge and inform policies that address the health and social needs of Indigenous communities in the context of climate change.
The findings of the WHO Systematic Review were released in the sixth edition of the State of the World's Indigenous Peoples, which focuses on the Climate Crisis, and presented at United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) at the 24th session, which took place at the end of April 2025 in New York.
This publication focuses on the climate crisis, its impact on Indigenous Peoples, and the role Indigenous Peoples can and do play in mitigating the effects of climate change. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current and emerging issues in the context of the climate crisis from the perspective of Indigenous Peoples.
Our commissioned review aimed to characterize the extent, range, and nature of secondary literature on climate change, biodiversity loss, and Indigenous health and wellbeing globally. The resulting publications explore the profound personal relationship Indigenous Peoples have with the Land and how, as ecosystems transform, these relationships are disrupted with serious repercussions for not only physical, but emotional and spiritual health.
Waterloo Climate Institute member contributions
Other UWaterloo Collaborators
- Laura Jane Brubacher
- Tara Chen
- Laura Peach
Laurier University collaborator
- Sheri Longboat
Queen's University collaborator
- Kaitlyn Patterson
Funding
The research was commissioned by the WHO and supported by the Waterloo Climate Institute.