Coastal conflicts cause environmental and social harms to Indigenous Peoples worldwide

Socio-environmental conflicts linked to environmental change and resource use are increasing in coastal regions worldwide, with harmful impacts on ecosystems and well-being. Indigenous Peoples are often disproportionately affected due to historical and structural marginalization. Yet, impacts on coastal activities remain understudied. Here, we analyze 401 socio-environmental conflicts involving at least 275 Indigenous ethnic groups, examining their geographic distribution, drivers, and consequences. We find that conflicts are unevenly distributed, and primarily driven by energy production, mining, and biomass sectors. Reported impacts include biodiversity loss, degradation of landscapes and seascapes, well-being degradation, and the destruction of or displacement from ancestral lands and seas. Impacts differed substantially by sector and the level of Indigenous rights recognition. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing, respecting and protecting Indigenous rights, cultures and values to support more just and sustainable coastal development. Coastal socio-environmental conflicts, mainly driven by the energy, mining, and biomass sectors, disproportionately affect Indigenous communities. They cause biodiversity loss, land and seascape degradation, and harms to well-being, while also reflecting uneven rights protections.