Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change

The summit begins today and the attendees have come together so indigenous peoples from all regions of the globe can exchange their knowledge and experience in adapting to the impacts of climate change, and to develop key messages and recommendations to be articulated to the world at the Conference of Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009.

Human activity is changing the world’s climate and altering the natural environment to which Indigenous Peoples are so closely attached and on which they so heavily rely. Patricia Cochran is chairwoman of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, and she said the United Nations-affiliated conference intends to provide "a unified voice, to be able to have more influence over the political and other decisions that are being made that impact our communities." Indigenous Peoples are on the front lines of climate change. They have observed climate and environmental changes first-hand and use traditional knowledge and survival skills to adapt to these changes as they occur. Stanley Tom is a conference delegate Tom said a river in his Alaskan hometown of Newtok has been eroding the earth under homes and has turned the tiny village into an island, and that other Alaskan villages were also facing erosion and flooding. "The global warming is really strong," Tom said. "The whole village is sinking right now." Indigenous Peoples were among the first groups to call upon national governments, transnational corporations and civil society to do more to protect the Earth and human society from climate change. The Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit will bring together 200-300 indigenous participants and observers from around the world to pursue four key objectives: 1. Consolidate, share and draw lessons from the views and experiences of Indigenous Peoples around the world on the impacts and effects of climate change on their ways of life and their natural environment, including responses; 2. Raise the visibility, participation and role of Indigenous Peoples in local, national, regional and international processes in formulating strategies and partnerships that engage local communities and other stakeholders to respond to the impacts of climate change; 3. Analyze, discuss and promote public awareness of the impacts and consequences of programs and proposals for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and assess proposed solutions to climate change from the perspective of Indigenous Peoples; and 4. Advocate effective strategies and solutions in response to climate change from the perspective of the cultures, world views, and traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, including local, national, regional and international rights-based approaches. The United Nations University (UNU) has assisted the Summit in synthesizing relevant background information, providing logistical and media support, and organizing a documentary film festival. During the Summit, UNU will provide substantive assistance in the form of rapporteuring, writing reports and proceedings, and aiding the Summit organizers with auditing procedures.