Indigenous leaders in northwest British Columbia are urging governments to act swiftly on targeted policy reforms that could unlock more than $60 billion in clean energy and infrastructure projects led or partnered by First Nations.
The First Nations Climate Initiative (FNCI) includes representation from Nisga鈥檃 Nation, Haisla Nation, Metlakatla First Nation and Halfway River First Nation.
For Andrew Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of Nisga鈥檃 Lisims Government, the potential initiatives represent a fundamental shift in how Indigenous Nations contribute to climate solutions and economic resilience. 鈥淭he Nisga'a Nation is taking real steps to help other countries decarbonize their economies while addressing poverty at home,鈥� he said.
The Nisga'a are developing Ksi Lisims LNG, a net-zero liquefied natural gas facility on their territory, with plans to export to Asian countries that continue to rely on coal for power generation. The Nation says the project is expected to rank among the lowest in carbon intensity of any major LNG export operation globally.
FNCI is calling for action in four priority areas: expanding federal investment tax credits to include intra-provincial transmission lines; enabling Indigenous-led carbon offsets to count toward industrial climate compliance; aligning trade policy with the emissions value of low-carbon exports; and funding Indigenous-led deployment of technologies such as methane pyrolysis.
鈥淚nternational collaboration is needed to action climate solutions,鈥� Robinson said. He added that the opportunities FNCI is advancing can deliver global climate benefits while supporting a prosperous economy at home鈥攐ne that keeps people connected to their land.
Crystal Smith, elected Chief Councillor of Haisla Nation and a founding FNCI leader, said the results of economic participation are already evident in her community, pointing to Cedar LNG, the world鈥檚 first Indigenous majority-owned LNG project.
鈥淔or the Haisla, the future looks different for the next generation than it did a decade ago,鈥� she said. 鈥淧overty, suicide, homelessness, joblessness are being replaced by economic independence and autonomy. And we hope this is just the beginning of generational opportunities and nation-building projects for those that were left behind in the previous waves of this country's economic transformations.鈥�
The coalition brings together Indigenous governments and policy leaders advocating for clean growth through Indigenous-led or partnered projects tied to energy production, transmission and global decarbonisation. Members are pressing for changes to federal and provincial policies to enable these projects, which range from LNG and hydrogen to transmission lines and nature-based carbon offset systems.
The group also includes elected President Eva Clayton of Nisga鈥檃 Nation and elected Chief Darlene Hunter of Halfway River First Nation. Both are involved in energy and carbon sequestration initiatives. FNCI leaders say meaningful progress requires not just recognition of Indigenous participation鈥攂ut policy frameworks that equitably share the economic and environmental value being generated.
FNCI says the policy decisions made now will determine whether these Indigenous-led projects reach their potential鈥攐r remain stalled at a time when both climate and economic stakes are rising.
