ECO is happy to share this part of our publication with the Indigenous Peoples Caucus(IPO) to help amplify their voice. This article reflects the views of the IPO.The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change is back in Bonn for in-person climate action call! We all witnessed the regression of climate actions during the Covid pandemic and the increase of inequality in and exclusion from decision making on climate change. Our priority is still an urgent call for sufficient reduction of GHG emissions in order to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming.
Climate action taken by States must not violate our collective rights. All climate actions must fully comply with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly, our rights to Self-Determination and Free, Prior and Informed Consent.
Our Indigenous knowledge, our rights, and our governance are recognized by the IPCC as crucial to address climate change. They recognize that colonialism continues to do us harm. Colonialism appears in the Paris Agreement itself, with its constant reference to “best available science” rather than “best available knowledge.” Indigenous knowledge must play its rightful role in addressing the climate crisis. Our contributions to climate action far exceed the emissions directly attributed to our communities. Indigenous Peoples call for a new paradigm – sustainability. 70% of the people of the world are fed by small Indigenous and local producers. They are sustainable.
We call for a process for non-state actors, including Indigenous peoples, to define climate finance. indigenous peoples must have direct access to climate finance to implement climate solutions according to our priorities and self-determination.
Indigenous Peoples have an important role to play and serve to maintain the balance between nature and the needs of all life. We welcome support for the Local Community and Indigenous Peoples Platform. We hope and expect that it may help to lead us to a sustainable world.
In connection with Article 6, Indigenous peoples ask parties to ensure compliance with the rights of Indigenous Peoples by taking the following considerations into account:
On Article 6.4, in its Annex under Section B (Governance and Functions) paragraph 24(a) provides that the “Supervisory Body shall, in accordance with the relevant positions of the CMA (a) Establish the requirements and processes necessary to operate the mechanism, relating to, inter alia; (…) (ix) (….) the rights of Indigenous Peoples (…).”2. This means that the rights of Indigenous Peoples inform the interpretation of all provisions under Article 6.4, and the Supervisory Body must establish requirements and processes to ensure the implementation of those rights. Paragraph 31(d)(iv) provides that the Supervisory Body shall also minimize and, where possible, avoid negative environmental and social impacts.
Therefore, in interpreting when consultation is appropriate or applicable under article 31(e) or the content of such consultation, recourse must be given to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically Article 19 which requires consultation whenever an undertaking may affect Indigenous Peoples.
In addition, it informs the nature of the consultation which must be conducted in good faith in order to obtain the Indigenous Peoples’ free, prior and informed consent.
3. Also the independent grievance process outlined in paragraph 62 must provide for the full, and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and comply with due process.
It is the first week of the negotiations, by the end of the second week Parties should make substantial progress on these issues. We can’t go back home and report back to our communities that our rights are in brackets.