[Indigsol] FW: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' GLOBAL SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

[Pei-Ju Wang]

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' GLOBAL SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE


http://www.indigenoussummit.com/ 


The Inuit Circumpolar Council <http://www.iccalaska.org>  is hosting April
20-24, 2009 in Anchorage, Alaska a Global Summit on Climate Change that will
bring together indigenous delegates and observers. 

The purpose of the summit is to enable Indigenous peoples from all regions
of the globe to 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 <http://www.cop15.dk/en>
Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in
Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009. 

Indigenous Peoples from all regions of the world depend upon the natural
environment.Their rich and detailed traditional knowledge reflects and
embodies a cultural and spiritual relationship with the land, ocean and
wildlife.

However, 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.

In a very real sense, therefore, Indigenous Peoples are on the front lines
of climate change. They observe climate and environmental changes first-hand
and use traditional knowledge and survival skills to adapt to these changes
as they occur. 
Moreover, they must do so at a time when their cultures and livelihoods are
already undergoing significant changes due, in part, to the accelerated
development of natural resources from their traditional territories
stimulated by trade liberalization and globalization.

Reflecting their position as "stewards" of the environment and drawing upon
their age-old traditional knowledge-the heart of their cultural
resilience-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.

Indigenous delegates were selected from each of the UNPFII regions, with a
view to ensuring balanced representation of professional expertise, gender
balance and stakeholder participation within the available funds. Additional
participants include both indigenous representatives and observers, who were
interested in attending the Summit and were able to fund their own costs.

The United <http://www.ias.unu.edu/>  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. 

 

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