TK & Climate Change
Introduction
In recent years, indigenous peoples have been recognised as powerful knowledge holders on climate change and key actors for developing policy to mitigate and cope with its effects. Observations of ecosystem change by indigenous peoples are acting as a sentinel like warning system for climate change. More importantly, the long-term place-based adaptation approaches developed by indigenous peoples provide valuable examples for the global community of low-carbon sustainable lifestyle, critical to developing local adaptations strategies in the face of climate instability. For example, the Inuvialuit of Northern Canada have observed delays in the autumn freeze, and changing sea ice distribution. Changes in sea ice distribution in turn alter the habitation patterns of seals. Such ecological observations are informing scientists and form part of the science base of studies such as the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA). The ACIA stresses “ the importance of intensifying natural and social science research on impacts and adaptation, including studies to enhance understanding of fundamental processes and sustainability, procedures for integrating indigenous and local knowledge into scientific studies, and partnerships between Indigenous peoples, local communities, and scientists in defining and conducting research and monitoring associated with Arctic climate and ultraviolet radiation changes” .
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified local knowledge as an important missing element in its previous assessments and a focus of its work for its next assessment process. The last report of Working Group II, in its cross-chapter case studies observed that “recent studies have emerged that explore how indigenous knowledge can become part of a shared learning effort to address climate-change impacts, mitigation and adaptation, and links with sustainability”. “Indigenous knowledge is the basis for local-level decision-making in many rural communities. It has value not only for the culture in which it evolves, but also for scientists and planners striving to improve conditions in rural localities. Incorporating indigenous knowledge into climate change policies can lead to the development of effective adaptation strategies that are cost-effective, participatory and sustainable” (IPCC 4AR, WG II, Cross-chapter case studies, p865, citing Robinson and Herbert, 2001).
At its most recent meetings, the IPCC has recognised that there is an increasing need for coordinated treatment of adaptation and mitigation within an integrated sustainable development strategy and the development of regional approaches to complement the global approach, particularly in assessing the impacts of and vulnerability to climate change.
The UNFCCC Bali roadmap has also included a reference to the economic and social consequences of response measures. It also includes a reference to the need to strengthen the “role civil society…. as a means to support mitigation in a coherent and integrated manner”. The President of COP 15 Denmark also has had a strong commitment to ensuring full and effective participation of indigenous people and civil society generally in UN processes.
Climate Change Assessments, Case Studies and Research
The Seventh Session of the Permanent Forum (UNPFII) adopted the recommendation that the United Nations University - Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) undertake climate change assessments as follows:-
“20. The Permanent Forum recommends that the United Nations University – Institute of Advanced Studies, university research centres and relevant united nations agencies conduct further studies on the impacts of climate change and climate change responses on indigenous peoples who are living in highly fragile ecosystems, such as low-lying coastal areas and small island States; semi-arid and arid lands and dry and sub-humid lands (grasslands); tropical and subtropical forests; and high mountain areas.”
The growing importance of TK in the international climate change agenda has been reflected in the further development of the UNU-IAS TK Initiative work on climate change.
Country Case Studies on Local Mitigation and Adaptation Measures
A series of case studies on climate change undertaken by indigenous peoples, focussing on impacts of climate change in selected regions and local mitigation and adaptation measures being undertaken by the indigenous peoples affected. This series is directed towards climate change researchers and policy makers and the first case studies are expected to be published in 2010.
Compendium of Case Studies
This study underscores the importance of indigenous peoples’ experience in the climate change debate by focussing on their twin roles as sentinels by cataloguing actual current impacts (rather than projections and speculations), and as innovators by reviewing the implementation of local adaptation and mitigation measures. This survey makes a useful resource for environmentalists, scholars, indigenous peoples organizations and policy makers. Publication is expected in 2010.
Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Assessment Project
The TKI has been involved in preparing for the Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Assessment project. The aims of this Assessment are to develop a substantive basis to support indigenous people in the climate change processes. Two specific and targeted aims are to incorporate indigenous knowledge into IPCC Fifth Assessment in 2014 (5AR of the IPCC); and support the Indigenous Peoples Global Summit on Climate Change. Additionally, the Assessment aims to: promote the resilience of TK; change mainstream science; provide a basis for effective indigenous participation in the UNFCCC processes and other national and international climate change processes; and develop regional nodes for the UNU-TKI.
The Assessment has two mutually supportive components: (1) a review process that will form the majority of the Assessment work in 2009; and (2) an assessment process that will assume increasing importance from 2010 and be the major focus of the Assessment in 2011.
Read more about the Assessment project...
Recent Events and Meeting Reports
The UNU-IAS TK Initiative has convened a number of meetings looking at the impacts of climate change on indigenous people, the contributions that TK and indigenous peoples can make to addressing climate change, and ways to promote indigenous peoples’ participation in climate change processes, including:
- Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change (April 2009, Anchorage)
- International Expert Group Meeting on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change, (April 2008, Darwin)
- International Public Forum on Indigenous People and Climate Change (April 2008, Darwin)
- Global Indigenous Peoples Consultation on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) (November 2008, Baguio City)
- South-East Asian Indigenous Peoples Regional Consultation on REDD (November 2008, Baguio City)
- Indigenous Issues and Climate Change Stream at the 11th International Congress of Ethnobiology (June 2008, Cusco)
- Planning meetings for the Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Assessment project (June 2008, Cusco and September 2008, Palo Alto) and the first meeting of the Interim Steering Committee (October 2008, Spain).
The Indigenous Summit brought together approximately 400 indigenous leaders from around the world to discuss climate change. It was considered the most significant meeting of indigenous leaders on climate change ever convened. The aims of the Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change were to:
- Share information and experience about the effects of climate warming;
- Build capacity in indigenous leaders;
- Raise awareness; and
- Develop strategies to address the issue.
Publications, Guides and Declarations
TKI publications relevant to climate change include:
- Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples - Country Case Studies on Local Mitigation and Adaptation Measures (forthcoming, February 2010)
- Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, Mitigation and Indigenous Peoples - A Compendium of Case Studies (forthcoming, February/ March 2010)
- Climate Change in Northern Australia - Health, Adaptation, Fire Management and Global Relevance. Proceedings of the International Public Forum on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change - The Tropical Australian Experience, October 2009
- Report of the Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change, November 2009
- Indigenous Voices on REDD. Opinion Pieces in the REDD Bulletin. Currently available as individual articles on The REDD Site, August 2009 - December 2009
- The Anchorage Declaration, Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change, April 2009
- A Carbon Guide for Northern Indigenous Australians, January 2009
- REDD Guide for Indigenous Peoples, available in English, Spanish and French, November 2008, December 2009 [translations]
- A Guide to Emissions Trading, Carbon Financing and Indigenous Peoples, May 2008
Video Series
Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Change
The indigenous perspectives on climate change project includes a series of videos about the effects of climate change on indigenous communities living in various ecosystems around the world.
Watch the Indigenous Perspectives videos...
Future Activities
The focus of our work in this area for the next couple of years will be to bring the experiences and knowledge on indigenous peoples into the IPCC and UNFCCC processes.
A key output of this work will be a report on climate change for the 15th meeting of the UNFCCC COP in 2009 and the 5AR of the IPCC. This report will highlight issues such as climate change impacts experienced by communities, the meaning of climate change to communities, impacts of mitigation measures on communities, and climate change response measures reflecting the worldview of traditional communities. The report will also consider broader international issues raised above such as:
- How can the international community best work with indigenous people regarding the value and importance of their expert knowledge?
- Will Indigenous peoples be successful in adapting to climate change? At what cost to livelihoods, to the transmission of TK and culture? What steps should/can be taken to address these issues?
- How does this impact on the TK systems of Indigenous peoples? Will knowledge disappear? Will knowledge adapt? How will changes in TK systems impact the sustainability of livelihoods and communities?
- How can the interests of Indigenous peoples on the TK related aspects of climate change issues best be represented on the international stage?
- What are the implications of the newly adopted United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples for states and Indigenous peoples in relation to climate change, particularly, with reference to Articles 28 and 29?
- How can the lessons be applied more broadly? For example, will the response of Indigenous peoples to climate change demonstrate for the international community the dynamic rather than static nature of TK? Are the lessons applicable to other environmental issues, such as desertification, salinization or forest loss?
The 5AR of the IPCC is due in 2014. Supporting the participation of indigenous people and promoting the outputs of the Summit and the Assessment will be an important aspect of the UNU-IAS TK Initiative and TKI until then.
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