Reyes-Garcia, Victoria, Nelson, Valerie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1075-0238, Bonilla-Moheno, Martha, Hausner, Vera H., Leventon, Julia, Wheeler, Helen C., Aksoy, Zuhre, Bates, Peter, Carino, Joji, Dabezies, Juan Martin, Frantzeskaki, Niki, Gordon, Ethan, Gosnell, Hannah, Guibal, Camille, Gurung, Janita, Heatta, Máret J., Hernandez, Yesenia, Huambachano, Mariaelena, Speranza, Chinwe Ifejika, Magris, Rafael A., Mannetti, Lelani, Mansur, Andressa V., Nishi, Maiko, O'Brien, Karen, Pictou, Sherry, Raab, Kristina, Roskruge, Nick, Sulyandziga, Rodion and Villasante, Sebastian (2026) Indigenous Peoples and local communities as agents of transformative change for sustainability. Communications Earth and Environment, 7 (102). ISSN 2662-4435 (Online) (doi:10.1038/s43247-025-03098-z)

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Abstract

Achieving just, equitable, and effective sustainability transformations requires diverse social engagement. This paper identifies five key roles played by Indigenous Peoples and local communities as agents of transformative change: embodying sustainable lifeways, resisting harm and defending rights, extending their practices to influence broader systems, and offering foundational models for care-oriented economies and governance. Through illustrative examples, we show how Indigenous Peoples and local communities actively contribute to global transformation. We emphasize the importance of engaging with a wide range of actors in supporting, expanding, and deepening these contributions to realize meaningful, systemic change toward a sustainable and just future.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Indigenous Peoples, local communities, sustainability
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Society, Environment and Development (CSED) Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Society, Environment and Development (CSED) > Political Ecology, Culture & Arts
Last Modified:	02 Feb 2026 10:25
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/52368

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