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FNCI at COP29

By November 4, 2024November 24th, 2024News

First Nations Climate Initiative to Showcase Achievable Decarbonization Pathways at COP29

FNCI climate mitigation and no- and low-emissions resource projects further reconciliation, could inject billions of dollars into B.C.’s economy.

The Respective Territories of the Haisla Nation, Nisga’a Nation, Metlakatla First Nation and Halfway River First Nation, November 4, 2024 –

Today, the First Nations Climate Initiative announced it will be joining the Government of Canada’s official delegation at the United Nations climate change conference, COP29, for the third consecutive year.

At the conference, FNCI will call for Federal and Provincial governments to open pathways to decarbonization through specific policy and regulatory adjustments that enable large net-zero infrastructure projects, boost economic development for British Columbia and further reconciliation with First Nations.

The FNCI Delegation Travelling to Baku, Azerbaijan, Includes:

Building on the success of FNCI’s participation in COP27 and COP28, the group will be presenting on feasible decarbonization pathways, highlighting the progress it has made in implementing its First Nations Climate Initiative Climate Action Plan.

FNCI’s Goals for COP29 Are To:

  • Share how First Nations are developing and partnering in major zero-emissions and low-carbon energy and resource projects that will add billions of dollars to provincial coffers, helping to meet the economic and climate challenges of today, and into the future 
  • Demonstrate how FNCI’s Indigenous nature-based solutions (NBS) projects are protecting and restoring traditional territories, creating carbon sinks and contributing to climate mitigation 
  • Highlight progress that FNCI and its partners have made on the construction of renewable energy infrastructure in northwestern B.C. 
  • Share how two methane pyrolysis pilot projects in B.C. help meet global demand for hydrogen and derivative fuels, as well as graphite 
  • Encourage collaboration with private and public sector partners through FNCI’s Canada-Asia Decarbonization Opportunities project, which realizes the real-world advantages of Canadian low-carbon energy exports across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

Raise awareness of how Indigenous-led climate solutions and ownership of decarbonized energy infrastructure are essential for a just transition to net zero and a recovering climate

Indigenous Nature-Based Solutions

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are an essential part of climate change mitigation and adaptation, both internationally and domestically. Specifically, Indigenous NBS projects provide a key opportunity for First Nations to work with other levels of government to create carbon sinks. These carbon sinks sequester carbon from the atmosphere while recovering and protecting the ecosystems that are the foundation of Indigenous cultures, as well as essential for B.C. communities to thrive. 

FNCI is advancing Indigenous Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) with projects in the traditional territories of the Halfway River First Nation and Nisga’a Nation. These two projects cover tens of thousands of hectares out of the eight million hectares of land confirmed available for NBS opportunities by FNCI and partner Nations in their traditional territories.

On the demand side, FNCI has buyers ready to purchase millions of tonnes of high-quality offsets—those that are verified, additional and credible—from these and other Indigenous NBS projects in B.C. 

The Halfway River First Nation and Nisga’a Nation are advancing their projects in collaboration with the provincial government. Now, in order for these projects to proceed, Atmospheric Benefit Sharing Agreements must be put into place and the Province must adjust the policy and regulatory framework to increase the volume of INBS credits that can be used to offset carbon tax obligations, which would result in more climate benefits. 

Call to Action:

  • FNCI calls on the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada to make adjustments to Provincial and Federal policy and regulatory frameworks to expedite the implementation of Indigenous-led NBS projects. 
  • FNCI calls on the Province of British Columbia to reach Atmospheric Benefit Sharing Agreements with Nations that equitably share offset benefits between governments.

Construction of Renewable Energy Infrastructure

In 2023, FNCI supported the establishment of K’uul Power, founded by eight First Nations to develop renewable energy projects that are owned wholly or in part by the nations that would be affected. These projects are needed for decarbonization and First Nations economic self-determination. This includes the electrification of projects that will provide much-needed low-carbon resources and new zero-emission energy to the world.

Today, K’uul Power is expediting the construction of new transmission infrastructure in northwest British Columbia. Canada needs to double or triple its renewable energy capacity in the next 25 years to meaningfully contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change and capitalize on the transition to a de-carbonized global economy. K’uul Power and other First Nations-led renewable energy projects are supporting Canada’s ability to meet this future.   

Call to Action:

  • FNCI calls on the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada to proactively invest in Indigenous-led renewable energy transmission and generation infrastructure to support the creation of a decarbonized economy in northwestern B.C.  

Implementation of Methane Pyrolysis Pilot Projects

Together FNCI Nations and their partners are developing methane pyrolysis pilot projects—Innova Cleantech in Prince Rupert and New Wave Hydrogen in Burns Lake—to convert methane to hydrogen and valuable solid carbon with no emissions. 

These technologies enable the use of natural gas—an easily transportable feedstock—as a decarbonized source of energy, graphite and other carbon materials both domestically and internationally. The hydrogen can be used to manufacture other decarbonized fuels like ammonia, which can then be sold into growing international markets, such as Japan—where they plan to blend decarbonized ammonia with coal to reduce the carbon footprint of thermal coal electricity generation plants. Ammonia is also one of the decarbonized fuels in long dtance shipping to replace GHG-intensive maritime bunker fuel.

There are significant supply and trade opportunities with Canada’s trading partners, such as Korea, Vietnam and Japan, and G7 countries have identified these resources as essential in helping reduce their carbon footprints. 

Call to Action:

  • FNCI is calling for Asian and Canadian private and public sector organizations to partner with FNCI to apply these technologies in order to accelerate the energy transition

Progress on Canada-Asia Decarbonization Opportunities

FNCI is in the second phase of its Canada-Asia Decarbonization Opportunities project, building on the success of the first phase, which identified specific decarbonization pathways in its report, Western Canadian Gas Exports: Opportunities And Risks In A Low-Carbon World. 

Now FNCI is focused on engaging with private and public sector actors in Asia to commercialize the real-world advantages of Canadian low carbon exports across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. FNCI is focused on key pathways identified in Phase 1, including:

  • coal-to-gas fuel switching in the electric power sector 
  • blue ammonia blending to reduce the use of coal in electric power plants
  • industrial decarbonization of sectors such as steel and shipping through the development of new clean fuel supply chains
  • the development of end-to-end life cycle emissions monitoring of low methane-intensity supply chains for natural gas, to identify, mitigate and verify the elimination of fugitive methane emissions and venting
  • the potential development of international agreements to generate and share carbon credits 

FNCI is seeking to partner with companies across the value chain in Canada and Asia to collaborate on data-driven project examples and to activate and document the real benefits that arise for the climate as a result of these partnerships.

Call to Action:

  • FNCI is calling for the Government of British Columbia and Alberta and the Government of Canada to adopt policies and enter international partnerships that ensure that Canadian low-carbon resources and emerging decarbonized fuels contribute directly to GHG reductions and decarbonization in the countries that are our trading partners.

Decarbonization in Asia Event

In addition to presenting at the Canada Pavilion, FNCI is hosting an event at COP, Decarbonization in Asia: Contributions from Canadian Indigenous Communities & Their Partners, “Lessons from the Grease Trail”. 

This event will bring together technical and project development experts and policymakers at various levels of government. It aims to further FNCI’s collaborative efforts to activate decarbonization opportunities in Asia.

Quotes

Darlene Hunter, elected Chief of Halfway River First Nation (FNCI Nation)

“Nature-based solutions are an essential part of climate change mitigation, and we must move these projects forward— for the sake of ourselves, and future generations. 

Nature-based solutions will help us protect and restore the ecosystems we all depend on; create carbon sinks with climate benefits both here and abroad; and generate economic growth in B.C. This benefits everyone—and for First Nations, it means more opportunities for prosperity and traditional activities. Now the First Nations Climate Initiative needs Provincial and Federal governments to join us in reaching carbon credit agreements and implementing policy changes, so these projects can immediately start making a positive climate difference and contribute to the prosperity of all.” 

Chief Wes Sam, Ts’il kaz Koh First Nation, and Chair, K’uul Power

“We are working on renewable energy projects that will generate tremendous economic benefits for British Columbians, contribute to the fight against climate change and advance reconciliation. 

First Nation participation in these projects is both a legal and moral imperative, and we are committed to working together with public and private partners in the spirit of collaboration to build green infrastructure that powers a clean economy, for all our mutual gain and a more sustainable future.” 

Dr. Robert “RJ” Johnston, Research Director, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University, and Independent Research Advisor to FNCI

“Viable pathways for Western Canadian low-carbon and zero-emissions energy exports are emerging. These pathways must be anchored by consent and shared benefits for impacted Indigenous groups; align with Federal and Provincial climate policy; and factor in real-world dynamics—including competition with other energy fuels and technologies; energy geopolitics; and the industrial, trade and climate policies of energy-importing countries. 

FNCI is developing private and public sector relationships with Asian government, academic, NGO and industry partners to ensure that Canada’s low-carbon resources, fuels and technologies contribute to global GHG reductions in a meaningful and verifiable way.” 

First Nations Climate Initiative contacts to arrange media interviews: 

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