Basic Income Pilot: One Year On

There’s a lot of talk globally at the moment that it is time to give money directly to people on the frontline of the climate crisis.

At Cool Earth, we’re not just talking about it – we’ve been doing exactly that for 17 years. But in 2023, we refined our approach and launched the first ever Basic Income pilot for Indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest.

Already, this UN backed pilot is showing significant impact – not only for the wellbeing of the participants but also for the health of the rainforest.

Images from the sign up process to the Basic Income pilot in the Amazon rainforest.

The first year achievements from basic income in the rainforest

Over the last year, data shows that families in the three rainforest communities we work with now have better access to food, are able to spend more time growing their own food and are more involved in reforestation and conservation efforts in the rainforest. This is important because they look after a huge 738 hectares of forest.

And it doesn’t stop there.

In the last year, we’ve been invited to celebrate these achievements on the world stage at huge climate events like COP29 in Azerbaijan, COP16 in Colombia, Blue Earth Summit in London, and the Latin America Basic Income Congress in Costa Rica.

Our work around basic income has even caught the attention of global media, with coverage from The Guardian, The Independent and BBC World Service. And to top it off, the pilot has received recognition and support from the United Nations.

But don’t take it just from us, let’s hear from one of the many families of the pilot.

Diego’s Story

Diego, his wife, and two daughters joined the pilot a year ago.

Every day starts early, as they tend to their coffee farm, vital to their family income as forest resources become scarce. Coffee sales fund essentials like food, medicine, clothes, and school supplies, but the climate crisis has brought unpredictable rain, pests, and crop losses.

“The pilot’s support is a lot. It helped me with many things I didn’t have before. I bought a small motor for my coffee farm, which is very valuable. I bought plants to grow, and I’ve already planted them. And roofing sheets for my home, for my little house. They help… They will help me a lot. My daughters’ school supplies are complete. There’s no more… no more shortage.”

With less financial stress, Diego and his community have more time to focus on protecting their rainforest territories.

Images from the sign up process to the Basic Income pilot in the Amazon rainforest.

We’re proud that because of your support, we haven’t just talked about the impact a basic income could have – we’re trialing it and finding out! This pilot could lead the way for rolling out finances around the world – supporting those who are on the front line of the climate crisis – and keeping rainforests standing at the same time, so the climate crisis doesn’t worsen due to deforestation.

As we look forward to another year, we’re excited to continue our partnerships with these communities and with the Indigenous organisations that helped spearhead this approach, ONAMIAP and OMIAASEC – seeing even more resilience, and unity as they lead the way in safeguarding the Amazon.