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