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.
IISD/ENB shared the website where you'll find the group photo at the end of the dialogue and some others during the LCIPP workshop. Scroll down page to May 1, 2018 at http://enb.iisd.org/climate/sb48/
Frank Ettawageshik, National Congress of American Indians, opens the session with a prayer
As a follow-up to the Paris Agreement, an open, multi-stakeholder workshop on implementing the functions of the local communities and indigenous peoples platform took place on 1 May 2018. The workshop was the historic, first activity of the platform. Paul Watkinson, Chair of the SBSTA and Roberto Mukaro Borrero (Taíno), representative of local communities and indigenous peoples organizations were the session's co-moderators. Christiana Figueres Olsen, Executive Secretary of the UFCCC gave a key note address as well as Grace Balawag of Tebtebba Foundation. A report on the session will be issued by the co-moderators before COP24.
Grace Balawag (at left), Roberto Múkaro Borrero, and Frank Ettawageshik at the Multi-stakeholder Workshop on 1 May 2018
UN Climate Change News, 30 April 2018 – UN Climate Change today launched its first-ever Annual Report, laying out the key 2017 achievements and pointing to the future of the climate change process.
"Climate Change is the single biggest threat to life, security and prosperity on Earth," said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa. “This annual report shows how UN Climate Change is doing everything it can to support, encourage and build on the global response to climate change.”
The report covers many areas of the 2017 work of UN Climate Change, which includes the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement, as well as their bodies, institutional arrangements, organs and the secretariat.
For example, at the UN Climate Change conference (COP23) presided over by Fiji last November, almost 30,000 people from all levels came together in Bonn, Germany, to drive action on climate change. The conference saw financial commitments amounting to almost USD 1 billion to tackle climate change.
Governments took key decisions, among them launching the Talanoa Dialogue, the first-ever Gender Action Plan, a platform for indigenous peoples and local communities, and an agreement on agriculture.
Throughout 2017, UN Climate Change continued to deliver on its core tasks: supporting the intergovernmental process, bringing transparency to climate commitments, supporting Parties in building resilience and adapting to climate change, facilitating the mobilization of finance and diffusion of technology, and fostering cooperation with non-Party stakeholders to realize the Paris Agreement’s potential.
The report also looks at the outlook for the year ahead, including increasing the number of ratifications of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol so it can enter into force, the Talanoa Dialogue which will inform and inspire Parties as they increase their commitments, and adopting the outcomes of the work programme of the Paris Agreement at the end of 2018.
“Throughout 2018 and beyond, let us do all in our power, together, to accelerate action,” said Ms. Espinosa. “Only by doing so can we succeed in protecting our planet from climate change and securing a low-carbon, sustainable future.”
Countries are now gathered in Bonn focused on critical interim work leading to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP24) in Katowice, Poland, including preparation of the Paris Agreement Work Programme, which will guide implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Read the full UN Climate Change Annual Report 2017.
Please find below the agenda for the multi-stakeholder workshop on implementing the functions of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform. The co-moderators for the workshop are Paul Watkinson, Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and Roberto Múkaro Borrero (Taíno), representative of indigenous peoples organizations
You can find the event details here.
If you are participating remotely, you are welcome you to tune in via Skype here. You can also submit your questions by visit here, and keying in the event code #LCIPP (in capital letters).
We also welcome you to interact with us via social media using the event hashtag #LCIPP.
Please us know if you have any technical questions via the email address: LCIPP@unfccc.int
Agenda for the multi-stakeholder workshop on implementing the functions of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform, 1 May 2018
English | Español | Français | Русский
At COP 23, Parties initiated the operationalization of the local communities and indigenous peoples platform.
Daily meetings for the Indigenous Peoples Caucus will be held from 9:00-10:00 at the World Conference Center in Bonn. On April 30th, the meeting will be Room BANGKOK. From May 1st-10th, the meetings will be held in the AH Upper Conference Room.
Background: COP 22, in decision 21/CP.22 on gender and climate change, as part of its decision to continue and enhance the Lima work programme on gender, decided to hold annual in-session workshops in conjunction with the first sessional periods of the subsidiary bodies in 2018 and 2019. COP 23, in decision 3/CP.23 decided that the topic for the 2018 in-session workshop on gender and climate change would be based on the submission request under priority area E.1 of the gender action plan. Priority area E focuses on monitoring and reporting, with an emphasis on sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis.
Schedule: The workshop will be held in two parts:
Part I: Including sex-disaggregated and gender analysis, examine the differentiated impacts of climate change on women and men, with special attention paid to local communities and indigenous peoples, as well as the integration of gender considerations into climate adaptation, mitigation, capacity-building, Action for Climate Empowerment, technology and finance policies, plans and actions.
Part II: Policies, plans and progress in enhancing gender balance in national delegations
Objectives:
To raise awareness on the differentiated impacts of climate change, including how to identify such differences and address them in policy and action design and implementation;
To build the capacity of participants to understand the tools and mechanisms that facilitate the design and implementation of gender-responsive climate policy and action;
To raise awareness on possible options for enhancing gender balance in national climate delegations;
To provide an opportunity for Party delegates and observers to brainstorm on possible options.
Outcome: A summary report for each part of the workshop that captures challenges and good practices related to the topics, will be prepared and published as an INF document and will be made available on the UNFCCC website after the close of SBI 48.
Format: The in-session workshop will combine expert and technical presentations, group discussions and panel presentations with sufficient time for substantive, interactive discussions on how to enhance implementation under the Lima work programme on gender and its gender action plan.
Participants: Open to Parties and observers registered for SBI 48. Also open to the press.
Venue: World Conference Center (rooms to be confirmed), Bonn, Germany
Gender and climate change workshop annotated programme (will be available prior to SBI 48)
Organizer and contact:
The workshop is being organized by the UNFCCC secretariat
Fleur Newman (Ms)
Gender Affairs Officer
Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary
Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany
gender-team@unfccc.int
Language: English
Mandated event
Source: UNFCCC
"Join us for an open multi-stakeholder dialogue on implementing the functions of the local communities and indigenous peoples platform."
Detailed information about the workshop as follows:
Co-moderators: Paul Watkinson, Chair of the SBSTA; and Roberto Múkaro Borrero (Taíno), representative of local communities and indigenous peoples organizations
Date: Tuesday (1 May, 2018) at 10:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00
Venue: World Conference Centre Bonn, Bonn Germany
Mandate: COP 23 (Decision 2/CP. 23, paragraph 9) decided that the first activity of the platform will be a multi-stakeholder workshop on implementing the functions of the platform, to be co-moderated by the Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and a representative of local communities and indigenous peoples organizations, who will each make an equal contribution to the design of the workshop.
Agenda: Coming soon
Source: UNFCCC
From the IIPFCC-GSC Co-chairs: In accordance with the proposed timeline, with a deadline of the 23rd of April, the regions had an opportunity to comment on the selection of Mr. Roberto Múkaro Borrero as co-moderator, and with the assumption that no objection is a signal of support, Mr. Borrero has been confirmed as the Co-moderator for the workshop to be held in exactly one week. Now we should be looking at the design and substance of this workshop, and we look to Roberto to start the process of gathering input from the regions.
Terms of Reference for Co-Moderator
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September 11-12 2017, Indigenous Peoples from all regions met with States, UN bodies (UNFCCC and UNESCO) in Ottawa Canada to continue discussing the implementation of operative paragraph 135 of the United Nations Paris Agreement. OP 135 recognizes the need to strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ “knowledge, practices, innovations and efforts” and also calls for the development of a new Traditional Knowledge Exchange Platform to mitigate Climate Change.
In this and other dialogues, IITC has continued to call upon States to change the policies and practices that undermine Indigenous Peoples ability to practice and protect their traditional knowledge in their homelands. These include industrial agriculture using GMO’s and pesticides, habitat destruction, restrictions on access to traditional lands and water, Treaty violations and continued fossil fuel development, as well as failure to implement Indigenous Peoples’ rights to Free Prior and Informed Consent and Cultural Heritage, among others.
IITC also continued to underscore the need to include Indigenous Traditional Knowledge holders, elders and practitioners in the development and implementation of the new Exchange Platform. For example the participants in the 3rd International Indigenous Peoples Corn Conference, March 7 – 9, 2017, Tecpan, Guatemala, affirmed “that the new Platform for Traditional Knowledge Exchange under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is developed with the full and equal participation of Indigenous Peoples from all regions and especially our knowledge holders and traditional food producers and in a manner that fully respects our rights, traditional indigenous sciences and the richness of our ancestral knowledge” (from The Declaration of Tecpán).
The development of the Traditional Knowledge Exchange Platform will be a focus for IITC’s and other Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the 23rd Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which will take place in Bonn Germany from November 6-17, 2017.
Source: https://www.iitc.org/traditional-knowledge-climate-change/
Prayer circle in solidarity with the Standing Rock Tribe in front of the UNFCCC Conference site on November 15th, 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco. Photo credit: Kayla Faith
By India Logan-Riley, Aotearoa, Pacific Indigenous Peoples Delegation
Last session of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus at COP 22 held in Marrakech, Morocco, November 18, 2016
A message from Adelfo Regino, Latin American Caucus: During the last session of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus at COP 22, held in Marrakech, Morocco, we had a dialogue with government representatives from Ecuador, Guatemala and Australia.
In this meeting we have be made aware of the proposal being made by the President of COP 22 regarding the establishment of a “Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform” in this Climate Change process. I have attached the text, which is only available in English. We are looking for a way to translate into Spanish.
We will be attentive to the evolution of the negotiations in this last day of session. Let's hope there's good news for the Indigenous Peoples of the world.
Spread the word!!!! Share this message with everybody!!
Join the biggest family photo in UNFCCC history for unity and action!
We hope you will join us around the message that #WeWillMoveAhead with climate action and climate justice here and beyond COP22.
What: Gathering for what will be the biggest ever UNFCCC family photo, around unbranded giant banners that read "We Will Move Ahead"
When: Friday at 12.45 pm
Where: In front of conference center entrance - outside, next to the flags
(don't worry, security promised us they will have extra staff to ensure we can out and back into the venue very fast).
Why: To send an image to the world that we, the global community, are determined to move on and win the fight against climate change. (And we won't let anyone sabotage the transition to a climate resilient future).
Message: #WeWillMoveAhead
Organisers: The photo opportunity is organised by Greenpeace but it will be an unbranded activity open for all COP22 delegates.
Come over and call on everyone - Let's close COP22 with a message of hope, unity and action to the world!
Message from: Emily Hickson <ehickson@climatenetwork.org>
Oxford University Researchers have released a new report calling on UNFCCC to halt the marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples at its annual COP negotiations.
The report identifies three tiers of marginalisation for Indigenous Peoples at the international climate negotiations.
Full report is available here: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2870412
Policy brief here: bit.ly/2fI1jR9
In a new working paper released today, researchers at the University of Oxford are calling on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to address the marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples. They warn that if the leading international climate body continues to marginalise Indigenous knowledge and adaptations, attempts to solve the climate crisis will be in vain.
Oxford University researchers have identified three tiers of marginalisation that exist at UNFCCC COP events, including COP22 taking place in Marrakesh this week:
· Politically, Indigenous Peoples are not allowed to self-represent; they are simply ‘observers’ to the negotiations. The nation states speaking on their behalf are responsible for their historical and current political marginalisation.
· Geographically, the space offered to Indigenous Peoples is outside the main negotiating space of the conference.
· Economically, Indigenous Peoples attendance is restricted by lack of finances. Developed nations and wealthy lobbyists thus dominate the space; Indigenous Peoples often cannot afford translators.
The new paper argues that solving the climate crisis will be unfeasible without the direct input of Indigenous Peoples and their knowledge. Yet, as the paper points out, the marginalisation faced at annual UNFCCC COP events inhibits this. Further, it goes against International human rights, including the right to self-determination.
Lead author Claudia Comberti says: “Rather than acknowledging the key role Indigenous Peoples should play in creating climate solutions, they are segregated at the climate negotiations and not allowed to self-represent. The UNFCCC needs to change this if it is to create fair and adequate solutions to climate change.”
The paper notes that Indigenous Peoples represent the majority of the world’s cultural diversity. Collectively they hold a wealth of environmental knowledge and adaptation strategies that are crucial to addressing climate change. Indigenous Peoples are also experiencing climate change first, and most strongly than other populations.
The paper proposes four actions to radically improve the situation:
1) Grant Indigenous Peoples full member status at the UNFCCC, so they can self-represent.
2) Appoint Indigenous Peoples as experts in negotiations around Adaptation and Loss & Damage
3) Direct and restructure financial streams to increasing autonomy and voice of Indigenous Peoples – including the Green Climate Fund, and finance for translators and travel
4) Commit to respecting Indigenous Rights and International human rights – an international agreement that the current situation undermines.
The full paper, released today, is based on several months of research, including interviews and observations at previous UNFCCC COP events.
For full article see: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2870412
Policy brief: http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/publications/policy-brief-pdf/20161116_IP-marginalisation_CComberti.pdf
08.00 – 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 – 12.15 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion
Affordable Green Energy for Poor Communities
Organizers: Varhad Capital Pvt Ltd (Green Banking Initiative)/Gravity Power
12.30 – 14.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion
Lessons from the Canadian Arctic on Adapting to Climate Change
Organizers: McGill University/Inuit Circumpolar Council, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, University of Sunshine Coast
14.15 – 15.15 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion
Organic Value Chains with Moroccan Communities
Organizers: High Atlas Foundation
15.30 – 18.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion
Ancestral techniques of the oases for the management of natural resources
Organizers: Association Oasis Ferkla pour Environnement et Patrimoine/RADDO,RARBOSM
“IIPFCC proposed elements for an outcome of the informal consultation on the indigenous peoples platform:
- An incremental approach led by the SBTA chair and a representative of Indigenous Peoples appointed by the Indigenous Peoples themselves who will serve as co-facilitators.
- Invite submissions by parties, Indigenous Peoples and observers by 31 March 2017 on the purpose, content and structure of the indigenous peoples´ platform to inform the dialogue and the process.
- Convene 3 consultations, to be conducted by the co-facilitators during May sessions on the operationalization of the platform, including purpose, content and structure.
- Request the co-facilitators to present the outcomes of the consultations for the consideration and adoption at the COP23.
- Request the secretariat, under the guidance of the co-facilitators, to operationalize the platform taking into account the submissions and the outcomes of this dialogue.
We remain available if you require any further information. We are committed to several bilaterals with a number of Parties throughout the day to reiterate our position.”
Here, on Tuesday at CoP22, the caucus continued work on our preferred structure and process of an Indigenous Knowledge Platform in the UNFCCC. This work is crucial to influencing the ways that NDCs (nationally determined contributions) will be implemented, and making sure implementation does not harm indigenous peoples but lifts us up in partnership.
This means continuing to lobby states to support the establishment of the Indigenous Peoples Platform under Paragraph 135 of the Paris Agreement. To show support for this, we had a special guest at the morning’s meeting. The ambassador from Bolivia communicated their country’s backing of the platform and requested further dialogue with IP caucus to ensure consistency in understanding of any proposals put forward to the CoP Presidency and Parties.
In other areas, the caucus continues to work hard to complete statements across all workstreams here including: SBSTA; SBI; APA and Finance. There are also impromptu lobbying meetings occurring with key states as the opportunities arise.
The IP Caucus will present a statement, 1min in length to the High Level Segment on Wednesday 16th Nov. Its important that we present our highest priority level input and ensure that we are heard.
Youth delegate Genevieve Northey photocopying the position document of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus for distribution among the delegations at COP22.
Indigenous Peoples led Sunday's March in Marrakech, Morocco during the UNFCCC COP 22 Conference
On Sunday, November 13, 2016 thousands of Climate Justice allies around the world marched in the streets of Marrakech to call attention to their struggles, their innovative solutions, and to demand real action from the governments meeting at the UNFCCC COP 22 conference. The march was led by Amazigh Indigenous Peoples of Morocco and other parts of North Africa as well as by other Indigenous Peoples from around the world.
Photo by Emily Arasim/ Women's Earth and Climate Action Network
Over the duration of CoP22, the secretariat have been consulting on the structure of an Indigenous Knowledge Platform. The information from the informal consultation and those that we have obtained from various sources at COP22, it is our understanding that the Presidency wanted the platform as one of the outcomes of COP22. Over the first week, the secretariat had been meeting with representatives of the caucus to discuss this and hear our ongoing input.
However, on Monday, we learned with very short notice that the secretariat and states were holding an informal consultation about the platform without indigenous peoples present. This concerning information touches on two key issues for indigenous peoples: that of full and effective participation; and recognition of indigenous knowledge. Click here to find out more about what this means for the IIPFCC.
So what happened in the meeting?
Members of the caucus attended the meeting where Ecuador requested that the indigenous peoples speak first and we were able to give our statement on the matter.
Despite the number of Parties present, we note that all took the floor. Guatemala, Ecuador, Bolivia, Australia, and Panama made significant and sometimes reinforcing statements. It is our observation that Bolivia and Ecuador are the “champions of our positions” and are on the rights side of the argument yet require further guidance from Indigenous Peoples. We have been informed that Bolivia is keen to seek direction from the IIPFCC on the “Indigenous peoples and local communities”. We have faced this issue before under CBD Article 8(j), where it has been our position to have the knowledge platform focus solely on Indigenous Peoples knowledge.
We know New Zealand (through bilaterals) and Australia are in favor of further discussions regarding the Indigenous platform. We have also reached out to other Pacific States, we will try to meet them bilaterally within the next days. The European Union was cautious about the process, as the platform needs to be agreed to by all Parties and would like to see the process to go step by step. A view which is in line with our view that the COP presidency is rushing into this and the need to establish a timeline that provides sufficient time for full, effective, direct and meaningful participation.
Our concern is the absence of Mexico, as the champion of human rights during COP21 and leader of the group of States friendly to human rights, we have received little to no indication of their support for the human rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is our view that Indigenous Peoples must go into a bilateral meeting as soon as possible. Further, as far as we understand, the Asia, and Africa regional group have not voiced their views yet. We believe that a number of Parties are awaiting further information regarding the platform before engaging into consultations.
Moving forward, we hope that it becomes needless for us to have to keep reclaiming our knowledge, ways of life and spaces back
#indigenousrising #IndigenousCOP22
More updates on an indigenous knowledge platform development to come.
