The Wire

The Native Title Act 1993 recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights to land and waters, but when it comes to renewable energy projects the traditional owners of the land have little legal say.

In the Pilbara in Western Australia, The Asian Renewable Energy Hub is planning to house wind turbines and solar panels across 6,500 square kilometres of land.

While a transition to a zero-carbon economy is impossible without clean energy developments, advocates say it’s essential that native title holders are granted negotiating powers.