SIMULTANEOUS THEMATIC SESSIONS

(INDIGENOUS DAYS)

 

 
Themes for the Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change
Introduction:
The Indigenous Peoples Global Summit on Climate Change is unique opportunity for indigenous peoples to discuss and share experiences on climate change. The Summit is designed to produce a legacy,, most importantly the participants will adopt an Indigenous Peoples Declaration and Action Plan on Climate Change for presentation and discussion at COP 15 in Copenhagen and beyond. The summit agenda is designed to promote discussion and sharing among and between representatives of Indigenous peoples from all regions of the world with a view to developing the declaration and action plan.
The agenda begins with reports by Indigenous peoples on the impacts and effects of climate change in their regions, supplemented by information already generated by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and others, and then moves to a presentation of research commissioned specifically for the Summit and briefings on international instruments to address climate change. This is followed by four simultaneous thematic sessions, and a full day’s dialogue with representatives of governments, businesses, foundations, international agencies, NGO’s and others. The final day focuses on the declaration and action plan. Regional caucuses, key note addresses, cultural events, and blessings will be held every day.
Background to the Four Simultaneous Thematic Sessions
Climate change has captured the attention of the international community and the public at large to an unprecedented extent. The impacts of climate change range from effects on agriculture to endangering food security, to rising sea-levels and accelerated erosion of coastal zones, increasing intensity of natural disasters, species extinction and the spread of vector-borne diseases.
The 2007 assessment report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), concludes there is unequivocal evidence that the earth’s climate system is warming, very likely due to anthropogenic (human caused) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the absence of effective mitigation, the IPCC predicts that the earth’s air temperature will increase by 2.0 to 4.5 degrees by the end of the century, resulting in a sea level rise of at least 18 to 58 cms. Projected temperature increases in high latitudes, such as the Arctic are 5 to 7 degrees by 2099. The IPCC report presented evidence from all continents that shows increasing regional climate change. Carbon dioxide, the principal GHG in the atmosphere, has increased by 35 per cent since the industrial revolution as a result of human activity, especially in the rich and industrialized nations. The emerging economies of China, India, Brazil and others are predicted to generate significant global GHGs. The impacts and effects of projected global warming on societies and cultures, as well as the environment and economy, are stark and worrying..
As a result of their close relationship with the land, including their traditional knowledge, indigenous peoples have observed and reported the impacts of global warming for several decades. Observed changes relate to temperature, amounts and qualities of rain and snow, length of seasons, distribution and abundance of plants and animals, and much more. Indigenous peoples are trying to cope with and adapt to these changes, with varying degrees of success.
Indigenous peoples are directly and disproportionately affected by climate change and by attempts nationally and internationally to mitigate its effects. In addition, indigenous peoples interpret and react to climate change impacts in creative ways, drawing on traditional knowledge and other technologies to find solutions, and increase resilience which may help society at large to cope with impending changes. Indigenous perspectives and their own efforts on mitigation and adaption are rarely considered by states or the international process to implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Mitigation and adaption to climate change raise fundamental questions of the meaning and practice of sustainable uses of land and natural resources, sustainable uses and management of forests, sustainable agriculture, protection and enhancement of sinks and reservoirs of GHGs, efficient use of energy, development of renewable sources of energy, including small-scale, community-managed renewable energy systems. To protect and conserve the territories of Indigenous peoples these strategies need to reflect the ecological dimension of climate change, and also the human, political and legal rights of Indigenous peoples themselves. 
The capacity of indigenous peoples to adapt to climate change has been compromised, not only as a result of the magnitude of the impacts of climate change, but because legal, political, financial and other means of support to Indigenous peoples from the international community has not been forthcoming. As stewards and custodians of large sections of the world’s biodiversity, cultural and language diversity, and traditional ecological knowledge, indigenous peoples can contribute significantly to the design and implementation of sustainable mitigation and adaptation measures.
The inclusion of indigenous peoples’ voices in issues affecting them is important in the ongoing debate about climate change. The right of indigenous peoples to participate in decision-making is confirmed in the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Agenda 21 adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janerio in 1992.. Article 18 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states “Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures, as well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous decision-making institutions”.
 
Four themes have been chosen to help delegates organize and explain their concerns and perspectives on climate change and to help structure recommendations for the declaration and action plan. Delegates in all thematic sessions are asked to address four questions outlined below, remembering that we wish to move beyond effects to solutions. Each Thematic Session will be facilitated and have translation into the Summit official languages. The Thematic sessions will also have a rapporteur to record the discussion. When you register for the Summit you will be asked to identify which thematic session you intend to participate in.Please feel free to break into smaller groups if this would help you to address these questions. Each breakout group will report back to the Plenary. When reporting back to the Plenary we ask delegates to stress proposed solutions to the problems posed by climate change.
1.       What are the key effects on Indigenous peoples and the natural environment of climate change?
2.       What are Indigenous peoples doing to adapt to the impacts and effects of climate change?
3.       What should national and local governments, international agencies, and research and educational institutions do to help Indigenous peoples adapt to the impacts of climate change?
4.       What should be included in the Indigenous Peoples’ Declaration and Action Plan on Climate Change?
Theme 1: Health, Wellbeing and Food Security
Indigenous Peoples are among the most marginalized and disadvantaged populations in developed and developing countries. With cultural homelands particularly in rural areas of developing regions, they experience similar problems in relation to their traditional food systems, food security and overall health. This theme will examine perspectives and knowledge Indigenous Peoples apply for good nutrition and to promote their health, often in the midst of financial poverty. Discussion could focus on health promotion using local indigenous foods. The goal is to identify successful food-based strategies to protect and promote the health of Indigenous Peoples in the context of the impacts and effects of climate change. Key questions include: How has climate change impacted your communities’ health and well being? What are the main health concerns related to climate change? What is the impact of climate change on your ability to produce food? What adaptations can you make to protect and promote your ability to produce food? What steps are needed by governments to protect and promote your ability to produce food?
 
Theme 2: Ways of Knowing: Traditional Knowledge, Contemporary Knowledge and Decision Making
Responding to climate change puts a premium on the generation, interpretation and use of data and information in decision-making within communities, regions, countries and globally.
 
Over many generations indigenous peoples have developed a holistic and detailed understanding of their surroundings and this is often referred to as traditional knowledge. Much of this knowledge is passed down from generation to generation orally and is as a distinctive intellectual tradition that reflects close observation of the natural world not simply myth, legend or anecdote. Too often attempts to compare and contrast traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) with scientifically acquired data imply that the Indigenous people’s way of knowing is inadequate in contrast with science. This divide between these knowledge systems will be discussed as will the benefits to decision makers from generating, sharing and using indigenous and non-indigenous knowledge. Please give some examples of how your traditional knowledge explains the impacts and effects of climate change and helps you to adapt to these impacts and effects. How is your traditional knowledge treated by local and national governments and by scientists and researchers? Can you provide some examples of traditional knowledge on climate change being used in decision-making by governments? How would you like your traditional knowledge to be treated in the future?
 
Theme 3: Environmental Stewardship and Natural Resource Ownership and Management
Indigenous peoples share an intricate relationship with their lands, environment, territories and resources. This relationship is the very basis of their economic, social and cultural systems, their ecological knowledge, and their identities as distinct peoples. Their traditional livelihoods include subsistence agriculture, hunting and gathering, trapping, pastoralism and fishing. This session will address land and resource ownership, control and management sustainable resource use, biodiversity conservation, water quantity and quality and related issues. Key questions include: Do you have secure, legal rights to own and/or use land and natural resources in your traditional territories? Are the responses to climate change by local and national governments and international agencies respecting your rights to own and use land and natural resources? What is the impact of climate change-related actions by local and national governments and international agencies on biodiversity and environmental conservation in your traditional territories?
Potential Theme 4: Energy Generation and Use in Traditional Territories of Indigenous Peoples
It is estimated that 25.9 percent of GHG emissions stem from energy production, and current emissions are predicted to increase by 50 percent by 2030. Scientists are experimenting with numerous technologies for mitigating climate change and are taking two main approaches to reducing the global level of GHGs in the atmosphere. The first approach is to reduce consumption of fossil fuels by switching to alternative forms of energy and improving energy efficiency. The IPCC has identified hydropower, solar energy, wind, geothermal energy, tides, waves and biomass as renewable energy sources. Even advanced nuclear power is included, but this has been vigorously contested by environmental groups and indigenous peoples.
Many countries around the world are actively increasing their use of wind and solar energy. Wind energy could bring clean energy to the world and a tremendous windfall of economic development to some indigenous communities. It is estimated that the wind energy potential worldwide is 15 times the world’s energy demands, with much of this energy potential located on indigenous lands. Using solar power to generate electricity would seem to be a perfect cultural-economic match for indigenous people seeking to participate in climate mitigation. Indigenous peoples have long shared a special affinity for the power of the sun, as evidenced in various religious and cultural practices. More solar energy from the sun strikes the earth in one hour than all the energy consumed by the planet in an entire year. Yet, solar electricity provides less than 0.1 percent of the world’s electricity, and solar energy from sustainable biomass provides less than 1.5 percent. 
The growing use of biofuels is increasingly controversial. Of particular concern is the dramatic shift in agricultural production patterns taking place to meet the demand for biomass.
Indigenous peoples are also concerned about the projected increase in the building of large hydroelectric dams, because of their potential displacement from their ancestral territories.
The second approach to reducing the level of GHGs in the atmosphere is to attempt to increase the earth’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide through reforestation or other more experimental methods such as carbon capture and storage (CCS).Is the promotion of biofuels an acceptable solution to climate change. What role should Indigenous peoples play in promoting forest conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects?