Indigenous peoples are at the forefront of fighting to protect our climate for our mokopuna yet to come. As tangata whenua, we have the most to lose from a failure to act on climate change, despite a relatively tiny contribution to global emissions. Many of our Pasifika whanaunga face the prospect of losing their islands altogether due to sea-level rise. Here in Aotearoa, from Raukūmara to Te Hiku, Kaikōura to Pātea, we have seen that Māori are on the forefront of resisting extractive industries that pollute our environment. We cannot achieve environmental protection and restoration without acknowledging and implementing Māori rights and recognising the role of tangata whenua as kaitiaki, and, yes, that includes actually returning our land and our resources. We cannot beat the climate crisis without restoring lands to their rightful indigenous owners, who know how to manage that land in harmony with the climate. 