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Addressing Indigenous Peoples’ Marginalisation at International Climate Negotiations Claudia Comberti, Thomas .F. Thornton & Michaela Korodimou Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford See http://ssrn.com/abstract=2870412 for full working paper Indigenous Peoples (IP) are a critical and inadequately considered population in the climate change crisis. On the one hand, IP represent a rich source of local environmental knowledge and adaptability that can significantly contribute to global solutions 1 . On the other hand, IP globally face systemic discrimination and exclusion from political and economic power. This is particularly pertinent at the United Nations international climate change negotiations (UNFCCC) where IP are largely marginalised and their voices dismissed. To address climate change fairly and effectively, the marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples needs to be addressed. We propose actions necessary to right the scales and respect human and Indigenous rights. Indigenous Peoples globally face three tiers of marginalisation: Geographical IP tend to exist in marginal places. This is a result of either original remoteness from colonial centres, being forced out of their native homelands to less ‘desirable’ spaces; or a conscious strategy to avoid subjugation and preserve cultural origins. Economic IP represent one-third of the world’s extremely poor rural people 2 . IP often reside within less-developed countries or regions of the world, increasing likelihood of shortages related to development, infrastructure and aid 3 . Political IP have faced a history of discrimination and violence. Today, the nation states within which they exist rarely acknowledge their traditional governance structures or grant them political autonomy.

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Page 1: Addressing Indigenous Peoples’ Marginalisation at International Climate Negotiations · 2016-11-16 · Addressing Indigenous Peoples’ Marginalisation at International Climate

Addressing Indigenous Peoples’ Marginalisation at

International Climate Negotiations ClaudiaComberti,Thomas.F.Thornton&MichaelaKorodimou

EnvironmentalChangeInstitute,UniversityofOxfordSeehttp://ssrn.com/abstract=2870412forfullworkingpaper

IndigenousPeoples(IP)areacriticalandinadequatelyconsideredpopulationintheclimatechangecrisis.Ontheonehand,IPrepresentarichsourceoflocalenvironmentalknowledge and adaptability that can significantly contribute to global solutions1. On theother hand, IP globally face systemic discrimination and exclusion from political andeconomicpower.ThisisparticularlypertinentattheUnitedNationsinternationalclimatechange negotiations (UNFCCC) where IP are largely marginalised and their voicesdismissed.Toaddressclimatechangefairlyandeffectively,themarginalisationofIndigenousPeoplesneedstobeaddressed.WeproposeactionsnecessarytorightthescalesandrespecthumanandIndigenousrights.

Indigenous Peoples globally face three tiers of marginalisation:

GeographicalIP tend to exist in marginalplaces.Thisisaresultofeitheroriginal remoteness fromcolonial centres, being forcedout of their native homelandsto less ‘desirable’ spaces; or aconscious strategy to avoidsubjugation and preserveculturalorigins.

EconomicIP represent one-third of theworld’s extremely poor ruralpeople2. IP often reside withinless-developed countries orregionsoftheworld,increasinglikelihood of shortages relatedto development, infrastructureandaid3.

PoliticalIP have faced a history ofdiscriminationandviolence.Today, the nation stateswithin which they existrarely acknowledge theirtraditional governancestructures or grant thempoliticalautonomy.

Page 2: Addressing Indigenous Peoples’ Marginalisation at International Climate Negotiations · 2016-11-16 · Addressing Indigenous Peoples’ Marginalisation at International Climate

These tiers of marginalisation exist at the UNFCCCPolitically, IParenotabletoself-represent; theyareadmittedas ‘observers’.Thenationstatesresponsible fortheirhistoricalandcurrentpoliticalmarginalisationspeakontheirbehalf.Geographically,thespaceofferedtoIPisoutsidethemainnegotiatingspaceoftheconference. Economically, IP attendance and representation is restricted by lack offinances4. Negotiating power and Indigenous voices at annual Conference of the Parties(COP)arethussubordinated.

Excluding IP is a problem for several reasons:

EnvironmentalKnowledge:Understanding of local-level climaticchangeimpactsislimited.IP,withhistoriesand knowledge systems related to closeinteractionswiththeirenvironments,areacrucial source of detailed information andknowledge to address these gaps. Storiesand lived experiences of changingseasonality; unpredictable rainfall; moreextremedroughtsandfloods;andsealevelrise;areprevalentandneedtobe listenedto before adequate support can bedelivered.

Adaptation:IP globally are already responding toclimate change; and represent criticaldiversityandcapacityinformingadaptivesolutions to problems posed by climatechange in varied contexts. Rather thanimplementing top-down, prescribedadaptation projects that can negativelyimpact local autonomy and culturalintegrity, local actions should beacknowledgedandsupported5.

LossandDamage(L&D):ThenewestandleastdefinedworkprogrammeattheUNFCCCcanbeimprovedwithIndigenousknowledgeandinput.ThisisespeciallytruefortheaspectofL&Dknownas‘Non-EconomicLossandDamage’,referringtothoseimpactsthataredifficultorimpossibletoquantifyeconomically,6.Relatingparticularlytoknowledge,livelihoods,andculturalheritage,theseareareasofparticularimportancetoIPworldwide.Theprocessshouldnotcontinuewithouttheirinput.

HumanRights:IP have the right to self-determination.Theymust have a voice in the decisionsthat directly affect their lives. Sinceclimatechange–anddecisionstoaddressit – will affect IP more than mostpopulationsglobally,denyingIPadequateinfluenceinthenegotiationsequatestoaloss of rights as defined under the UNcharter and numerous internationaldeclarations7.

“

Indigenousdiversityandknowledgeforclimatechangesolutions:Representing 370 million people across 90 countries, and 5,000+distinct cultures, IP account formost of the world’s cultural diversityand dwell in areas holding most of the world’s biodiversity1. Withhistories, livelihoods and knowledge systems intimately linked to thenatural world, they are also amongst the most exposed, and closelyattuned, to climate change1. This diversity and knowledge is a criticalglobal resource in understanding and adapting positively to climatechangeandmustnotbeignored.

Weactuallyhavesomelegitimatesolutions.…Theymightnotcomeoutthewaythatscientiststalk,butit’shiddeninthere.It’shiddeninthestories,andthehistory.-CarinnyaFeaunati,Architect,Samoa/NewZealand

”

We’reseeinglaterfreeze-up,latersnowinthefall,andearlierbreakupinthespring-Gunn-BrittRetter,SámiCouncil

”“

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Page 3: Addressing Indigenous Peoples’ Marginalisation at International Climate Negotiations · 2016-11-16 · Addressing Indigenous Peoples’ Marginalisation at International Climate

1) RecommendationsforaddressingmarginalisationofIPattheUNFCCC:rightingthescales

12) Increasenegotiatingpower:PromoteIPtofullmemberstatusattheUNFCCC• Allowing nation states to represent IP, in the context of historical and current-daymarginalisationandincompatibleinterests,isinadequate.

• Promotionofanindigenousdelegationtofullmemberstatus,asrecentlyachievedattheIUCN,isnecessarytoensureeffectiveandjustparticipationofIP;andtoupholdHumanRightsandtherightsofIndigenousPeoples.8

23) EmployIPasexpertsinwork-streamsanddecisionsaroundAdaptationandLoss&Damage• IP are theworld’s expert climate changewitnesses; and at the frontline of adaptationchallenges. Their knowledge, and diversity of perceptions and responses, is vital toensuretheseevolvingworkprogrammesandtheiroutcomesarelocallyappropriateandeffective.

• Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) should be respected and prioritised in itscomplexity. To do this, work to integrate TEK andwestern science, at the level of theUNFCCCisneeded.

34) DirectfinancialstreamstowardsincreasingtheautonomyandvoiceofIP• To counter financial barriers to access, funds to facilitate IP and civil society inclusionand participation in the conferences are needed. Specifically, translation, travel andtrainingshouldbecovered.

• IPmust be granted direct active observer status for Green Climate Fund (GCF) Boardmeetings.AnIPAdvisoryGrouptotheGCFboardshouldbeestablished.

• Financial support for a platform cross-cultural knowledge sharing between Indigenousgroupswithinglobalregionswillsupportadaptationandresilience.

45) EnsurerespectforIPandtheirrightsandlivelihoods:• A culture of respect for IP rights and livelihoods across all levels of society must becultivated.

• Acknowledgement and respect for TEK and Indigenous rights, including their adaptiveand sustained historical existence and contemporary right to continue their culturallifeways through self-determination under the UN Declaration on the Rights ofIndigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is imperative. All climate and development “solutions”shouldbereviewedforpotentialomissionsof indigenousknowledgeandimpactsonIPculturalwellbeing.

• TheinclusionandfullparticipationofIPindecisionsandprogrammesrelatingtoclimatechange is imperative foraneffectiveand just transition toamoreequitableandstableworld.

Thisisasummaryofthefullworkingpaper,availableathttp://ssrn.com/abstract=2870412.Pleaseciteasbelow,anddirectenquiriesandcommentstoclaudia.comberti@ouce.ox.ac.ukSuggested citation: : Comberti, C., T.F. Thornton, & M. Korodimou (2016) Addressing Indigenous PeoplesMarginalisationat InternationalClimateNegotiations:Adaptationand resilienceat themargins.Workingpaper,EnvironmentalChangeInstitute,UniversityofOxford,UK

1Fordetal.(2012)ClimaticChange113,201–213;Orloveetal.(2014)Curr.Anthropol.55,249–275.36;Maruetal.(2014)Glob.Environ.

Change28,337–350;Fordetal.(2016)NatureClimateChange,6(4),349-3532UN(2009)TheStateoftheWorld’sIndigenousPeoples.UnitedNations,NewYork3Kronik,J.andVerner,D.(2010)IndigenouspeoplesandclimatechangeinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean.WashingtonDC,WorldBank;

Nakashimaetal.(2012)WeatheringUncertainty.UNESCOandUNU.4Roger,C.,&Belliethathan,S.(2016).InternationalEnvironmentalAgreements:Politics,LawandEconomics,16(1),91-108.5Thornton,T.F.,&Manasfi,N.(2010).Adaptation—genuineandspurious.EnvironmentandSociety:AdvancesinResearch,1(1),132-155.6seeFankhauseretal.(2014).PolicyPaper,February2014;TheCentreforClimateChangeEconomicsandPolicy(CCCEP)7UnitedNations,CharteroftheUnitedNations,24October1945,1UNTSXVI;alsoInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights,and

theInternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights8SeetheUNCharter,InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights,Paragraph1;,theInternationalCovenantonEconomic,Socialand

CulturalRights;andUNDRIP


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