On Wednesday 11 May 2016, during the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) co-hosted a side event to report on indigenous peoples’ participation in UNFCCC COP 21 and reflect on the outcomes and achievements of their advocacy and engagement. Panellists were welcomed by a full house and a number of viewers joining via live webcast.
The senior leadership of the U.S. delegation here at COP-22 will be holding a briefing for U.S. civil society organizations. We hope you can join us from 1:00 to 2:00 PM (13h00 to 14h00) in Room 25 in the Meeting Room area. If a member of your COP delegation isn’t presently included on this mailing list, please let Catherine know at "Goldberg, Catherine A" <GoldbergCA@state.gov>
Note from Jesse Young, Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change, U.S. Department of State, YoungJD1@state.gov
A Note from Alberto Saldamando:
As I will be unable to attend the Caucus meeting Monday morning, I’m sending a brief report on the Executive Secretary’s briefing today. The important item is that although contact group meetings are open, sometimes they limit observer participation in order to preserve space for the negotiators. But when these meetings have space, even during the session, the chairs can open them up for observers.
Megumi has twitter account, @unfcccobservers and will try to inform when space allows observers that may open up during the meeting.
See you at the march tomorrow!
Alberto Saldamando, (415) 656-9198, Skype: alberto.saldamando, saldamando@sbcglobal.net
Report on Executive Secretary Briefing Saturday 12 Nov.
The Executive Secretary began her remarks by saying that in order to fulfill commitments in the PA need close contact with NGOs.
Each interest group was given an opportunity to ask questions:
Bingo began, but was also seconded by other interest groups, as to how to participate in the sessions of the COP, as experiencing many difficulties. Also inputs into substantive matters also difficult (finance, loss and damage, etc.)
Farmers only reflected disappointment in outcomes of SBSTA.
The Executive Secretary responded by saying that “rulebook” still being written. Although many important issues being discussed at COP where do have submissions from NGOS, the NGOs should foucs on National level in areas such as NDCs and finance. But do have access to meetings through system of badges, because must prioritize space for negotiators. All Plenary sessions open, and only contact groups are closed. Informals can also be open in accordance with SBI discussions. But some sessions very crowded, so need space, but will open when space is available.
Megumi has twitter account, @unfcccobservers and will try to inform when space allows observers that may open up during the meeting.
The Executive Sec. says she has observed much more willingness to have observer participation since her initial COP Cancun 2010.
RINGO Asked about individual submissions, not yet allowed.
Hassan represented IPOs and called for enhanced participation by IPOs in meetings, to allow interventions by IPOs at meetings.
TUNGOs wanted to be associated with technical groups and asked about the bike parking.
The Executive Sed. response was that bike parking was a challenge. She said that we must see COP as process that continues all year. “we are talking about a structural transformation from coal” and other fossil fuels that will take time and is a very challenging scenario. She mentioned the Indigenous knowledge platform and her office’s efforts to make it happen. She and Megumi also spoke about non-party stakeholder submission due in February to present to the parties at the next intersessional. And if there are any other ideas, please submit them to us so that the secretariat can present them to the Parties.
Saudata representing the Women and Gender interest group asked about the support for women to participate in National level discussions, that it is very difficult in some countries for women to participate. There was no response to this queston.
The meeting closed with three Indigenous organizations and COICA presenting the Executive Secretary with a gift of a drum from the Amazon that represents the voices of youth, women and who present a holistic vision of solutions to climate change, and that we need access to funding in order to implement that vision.
Selection of Events
09.00 – 10.00 Arabian Room (Blue zone)
Indigenous Peoples' Global Caucus Meeting
10.30 – 11.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion
Briefing for the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus
11.15 - 11.45 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion
Climate Change: Threats and Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and Communities in Developing Countries
Organizers: Drive for Economic and Environmental Development
12.00 - 14.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion
Pueblos Indigenas y Cambio Climatico en Abya Yala
Organizers: Foro Indigena de Abya Yala/Consejo Indigena de Centro America
14.15 - 17.45 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion
The Knowledge and Know-how of the Amazigh People and Other Indigenous People throughout the World
Organizers: Congrès Mondial Amazigh/Association des Populations des Montagnes du Monde
18.00 - 19.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion
Spotlight on Environmental Defenders
Organizers: Amnesty International/Republic of the Marshall Islands
Agenda note prepared by Docip secretariat@docip.org
Please visit the DOCIP website for updated information!
This will be an opportunity among those here at COP 22, to reflect on the U.S. elections of this past week and to allow us all to dialogue and measure how best to go forward together. The purpose is to dialogue only.
When: 11:00 Saturday , November 12
Where: Room 21
From Thomas Fiutak, Mediators Beyond Borders, Int'l, fiuta001@umm.edu
The International Indian Council (IITC) published a North American Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Consultations Report in March 2016. The report highlights a diverse range of input toward COP21 from Indigenous Peoples of North America including a summary of North American Indigenous Peoples activities leading up to and during the Paris Climate Summit. The results of a Climate Change Questionnaire developed by IITC and focusing on key issues, impacts and solutions for mitigation and adaptation including the role of Indigenous Peoples' traditional knowledge and practices. The questionnaire was distributed during the North American consultations and online in English and Spanish via various web sites and list serves. Exceeding the initial goal of two hundred, the IITC collected and complied two hundred and thirteen completed questionnaires including fifteen collected online.
As a result of input received from elected and traditional leaders as well as representative organizations, responses were reported to represent the voices of approximately 318,000 North American Indigenous individuals. Respondents represented a diverse sample of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives including Tribal Leaders (elected and traditional), elders, youth, educators, rights advocates, community organizers, food producers, cultural/spiritual leaders, and professionals. The respondents represented voices from diverse geographical areas across North America and eco and food systems which included coastal/islands, forests, deserts, mountains, Arctic/sub arctic, plains, agricultural areas, rivers and river deltas, lakes, wetlands and highlands.
North American Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Consultations Report Available Here
The International Indian Treaty Council, North America partners of the IIPFCC, held a regional consultation with members of local First Nations on 8 September 2015 in Edmonton, Canada, to discuss the effects of climate change in their communities and develop key messages for negotiators at the Climate Change Conference in Paris this December.
