Today, the First Nations-Canada Joint Committee on Climate Action (JCCA) released its seventh annual report to the Prime Minister and the National Chief. The Annual Report outlines the steps taken toward a stronger and more transparent climate partnership, highlighting JCCA'S commitment and progress towards the shared goals of advancing First Nations Climate Leadership. This includes the full partnership of First Nations in all federal climate policy and supporting self-determined climate action.
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Government of Canada have been working in close partnership to advance climate action since 2017. The success of this partnership relies on meaningful respect and implementation of First Nations' rights, title, governance, and leadership. Ongoing, direct engagement with First Nations rights and titleholders is essential.
In 2024, the JCCA focused its efforts on several areas, including the following:
- Analyzing, reporting and proposing solutions to address identified gaps and challenges in First Nations access to federal climate change-related funding.
- Strengthening intergenerational and intersectional dialogue, continuing to create spaces for the inclusion and promotion of Indigenous youth voices by hosting youth sessions at each of its meetings.
- Reviewing and updating the JCCA mandate based on lessons from the JCCA five-year review.
For 2025, the JCCA has committed to holding discussions and making progress on four priorities:
- Uplifting First Nations Climate Leadership in federal policy and programs;
- Monitoring progress and delivering results for First Nations;
- Strengthening dialogue through long-term relationship-building; and
- Improving communication and broadening the reach of the JCCA.
The JCCA works actively to ensure that at minimum the standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples-including the right to free, prior and informed consent-are considered meaningfully in federal climate policy and programs, enabling the direct contributions of First Nations youth, women, Elders and participants from every region.
