Supporting Indigenous Communities’ Fight Against CO2 Pipelines in the Great Plains

The Need for Indigenous-Led Action

CO2 pipeline projects are expanding across the Midwest, particularly in states like Iowa, Nebraska, and the Dakotas, and disproportionately impact Indigenous and marginalized communities. Indigenous-led organizations like Great Plains Action Society (GPAS), led by Sikowis Nobiss, who is Plains Cree/Saulteaux from the George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada, have been at the forefront of resisting these pipeline expansions. Nobiss and her team stress the importance of centering Indigenous voices in the fight for environmental justice by calling attention to the dangers CO2 pipelines pose to sacred sites, ecosystems, and Indigenous ways of life.

Historically, Indigenous communities have been among the most affected by environmental degradation due to land dispossession and marginalization. The growing CCS infrastructure, including CO2 pipelines near Indigenous lands, threatens essential cultural and ecological areas. Sacred lands, wildlife habitats, and water sources integral to Indigenous lifeways are at risk from pipeline construction and potential accidents. Nobiss and GPAS have long argued that environmental justice must prioritize Indigenous knowledge and leadership. Their efforts focus on protecting not only the physical environment but also the deep cultural and spiritual connections Indigenous peoples have with their land.

The mapping tool developed by GPAS and FracTracker Alliance directly responds to the need for Indigenous-led advocacy. It provides critical data that helps Indigenous communities visualize and address environmental hazards near their lands, enabling them to take informed action to protect sacred spaces and promote environmental justice.

The No CO2 Pipelines Campaign is led by Sikowis Nobiss, is Plains Cree/Saulteaux of the George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada, who founded Great Plains Action Society. (Photo by Great Plains Action Society)

Why CO2 Pipelines are Dangerous

Though carbon capture and storage projects are marketed as climate solutions, CO2 pipelines carry significant risks, especially for nearby communities. For example, in the 2020 Satartia, Mississippi, incident, a CO2 pipeline rupture released a dense cloud of carbon dioxide that displaced oxygen, leading to dangerous asphyxiation hazards. CO2 is colorless and odorless, making leaks difficult to detect without proper monitoring. These incidents can incapacitate people and animals, stall vehicles, and create life-threatening conditions.

Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable, as many CO2 pipeline routes pass close to their lands. These communities already face disproportionate harm, and additional projects like CO2 pipelines pose further threats to their health, safety, and cultural heritage.

According to research, construction of pipeline infrastructure has been linked to increased instances of violence, including sexual violence, against Indigenous peoples. This connection is often related to the presence of “man camps,” temporary housing for pipeline workers, which are frequently located near Indigenous communities. These camps bring a transient workforce that has been associated with heightened rates of drug trafficking, human trafficking, and violence, including sexual assaults against Indigenous women and girls. Studies and reports from Indigenous-led organizations have shown that the influx of non-local workers into these regions exacerbates existing vulnerabilities, making Indigenous populations, especially women, more susceptible to violence.

Pipeline construction also carries long-term environmental risks. It disturbs large areas of land, leading to habitat destruction, soil compaction, and water system disruption. In Indigenous territories, this can damage both the environment and significant cultural and spiritual sites. These risks, combined with the potential for catastrophic failures, highlight the dangers of relying on CO2 pipelines as a climate change solution.

In addition to land rights, negative impacts on soil and crop yields from pipeline construction are also a top concern for landowners along the route of the canceled Navigator CO2 pipeline. (Photo by Pipeline Fighters Hub, 2023)

Growing Resistance Across the Midwest

In addition to Indigenous leadership, rural landowners and environmentalists have joined the fight against CO2 pipelines, driven largely by concerns over eminent domain—the legal power allowing corporations to forcibly acquire private land for pipeline construction. This has alarmed many property owners and sparked widespread protests, especially in Iowa, where coalitions of landowners, farmers, and advocates have successfully resisted pipeline proposals. For example, grassroots action led to the cancellation of the Navigator Heartland Greenway pipeline.

Rural communities are also concerned about the environmental damage caused by pipeline construction, such as soil degradation and the risk of pipeline ruptures. Many argue that these projects prioritize corporate profits over local safety and well-being. The combination of Indigenous leadership and rural activism has become a powerful force against CCS infrastructure expansion in the Midwest.

A Tool for Advocacy

The environmental justice map is an invaluable resource for Indigenous and BIPOC communities. By combining real-time data with local knowledge, the tool offers a comprehensive view of the environmental risks posed by CO2 pipelines. It provides users with a clear, accessible visualization of how CCS projects intersect with Indigenous lands, sacred sites, and vulnerable communities. This tool is crucial for advocacy because it helps communities understand the threats they face and demand accountability from corporations and policymakers.

For Indigenous populations, the map is particularly essential in their ongoing efforts to protect sacred lands from CO2 pipelines and other industrial projects. By integrating data on environmental hazards, schools, prisons, and culturally significant areas, the tool empowers communities to engage with regulators and corporations in a more informed and persuasive way.

Beyond visualizing risks, the map serves as a living document that FracTracker Alliance will continuously update with the latest data on pipeline construction and environmental concerns. This ensures that communities stay informed about emerging threats and can adjust their advocacy strategies accordingly. By democratizing access to environmental data, the tool strengthens grassroots movements and elevates the voices of those most affected by environmental injustice.

Where to Learn More

• Prairie Not Pipelines – Carbon Capture and Sequestration in the Great Plains and Indian Country (youtube.com)
• Carbon Capture and Storage: Fact or Fiction? – FracTracker Alliance
• Carbon Capture and Storage: Industry Connections and Community Impacts – FracTracker Alliance