Green Colonialism at Home? A Critical Look at 'Sustainable' Projects on Indigenous Lands

Abstract

As climate action accelerates globally, “sustainable development” initiatives have proliferated across Indigenous territories, often framed as necessary steps toward a green transition. However, many of these projects—ranging from renewable energy installations to conservation zones and carbon offset schemes—risk reproducing patterns of dispossession and control under the guise of environmental progress. This research critically examines the phenomenon of "green colonialism" in the context of domestic policies, focusing on how ostensibly sustainable projects on Indigenous lands in Indonesia and comparable Global South settings intersect with histories of marginalization, land appropriation, and cultural erasure. Through qualitative case studies and policy analysis, this study reveals how state-backed and corporate-led sustainability efforts frequently bypass Indigenous consent, undermine traditional ecological knowledge, and impose external models of land use that conflict with local livelihoods. By tracing the discourses and power dynamics embedded in these interventions, the research exposes how environmental governance can become a vehicle for renewed colonial relations—this time justified by climate urgency. The study’s key contribution lies in reframing sustainability from a critical Indigenous perspective, challenging dominant narratives that equate “green” with “just.” It offers a framework for evaluating the legitimacy and equity of sustainability projects based on principles of self-determination, land rights, and cultural continuity. Ultimately, the research calls for a redefinition of sustainability—one that centers Indigenous agency and recognizes environmental justice as inseparable from decolonization. This work contributes to broader debates on green transition ethics, providing a grounded critique of how climate solutions can replicate the very systems they aim to transform.