This story is part of “Stories of Action”, a series highlighting the finalists from our first-ever global open call, which saw 175 organizations apply, leading to 24 finalists and 4 grant recipients. This initiative seeks to amplify impactful climate justice efforts and celebrate the ongoing work being done around the world to advance climate justice.
The voice of Afro-descendant and Indigenous peoples in the NY Climate Week 2024.
The Black Indigenous Liberation Movement (BILM) was formed in response to a dual crisis of racial and climate injustice that disproportionately affects Black and Indigenous communities across the Americas. Extractive industries—both legal and illegal—are rapidly depleting natural resources, polluting water sources, and displacing entire communities. The Amazon, the Andes, Central America, and the Caribbean are particularly vulnerable as governments and corporations prioritize short-term economic gain over environmental and human rights protections. For Black and Indigenous peoples, land represents identity, culture, and survival. Yet, centuries of exclusion and systemic racism have left these communities with limited access to decision-making spaces. As the climate crisis accelerates, frontline communities are facing some of the most severe consequences, yet their voices remain largely absent from global climate discussions.
BILM Congress in Quito, Ecuador, brought together Black and Indigenous leaders to strengthen solidarity and advance collective strategies for liberation and climate justice.
Black and Indigenous communities have long been at the forefront of resisting systemic oppression. They have organized grassroots movements to defend their rights, preserve their cultures, and protect their lands from exploitation. Initiatives such as community-led education programs, cultural revitalization projects, and legal battles against unjust policies have been instrumental in challenging systemic racism and promoting social justice.
With the support of Hakhu Amazon Foundation, BILM is working to expand its impact by training and sending Black and Indigenous leaders to key climate decision-making spaces, including the annual UNFCCC’s Conference of Parties (COP), the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and NY Climate Week. Additionally, recognizing the power of storytelling in advocacy, they plan to create a storytelling fund to support media production in film, audio, and journalism, ensuring that Black and Indigenous narratives are heard in these global climate discussions.
Ludy Caicedo Quintero, an Afro-descendant journalist from Ecuador, participated in the Second Session of the Permanent Forum for People of African Descent at the United Nations in New York, representing the Colectivo Mujeres de Asfalto.
To further support frontline communities, BILM also aims to establish a climate resilience and emergency fund, providing direct assistance to those facing environmental crises. By integrating advocacy, technical training, and storytelling, BILM is working to equip frontline communities with the tools, knowledge, resources, and platforms needed to lead the fight for racial and climate justice.
Learn more about Hakhu’s work here and about the The Black Indigenous Liberation Movement here!