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PARIS, France – The eve of Human Rights Day at the climate conference in Paris is Asia Indigenous Peoples Day.
On December 9, Wednesday, at their pavilion in the Climate Generations Spaces in Le Bourget, indigenous peoples from Asia will showcase their culture, way of life, and knowledge that provide solutions to climate change.
The event happens at a crucial phase in the climate talks. Indigenous peoples fear references to their rights will be dropped from the climate agreement which is expected to be adopted by 195 countries on December 11.
Reason to celebrate
But indigenous peoples also have a reason to celebrate.
On Monday, December 8, at least 21 initiatives of indigenous and local communities were awarded the Equator Prize on the sidelines of the climate summit.
Six awards went to organizations from Asia, besting about 1,450 other nominees from 126 countries around the world in various categories: forest protection, sustainable agriculture and food security, community-based adaptation to climate change, and land rights and advocacy for environmental justice.
The award, presented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and partner states and civil society organizations, put the spotlight on outstanding local and indigenous community efforts to address poverty, protect the environment, and build resilience in the face of global warming.
“They are thinking globally by acting locally…Their efforts are inspiring. Local and indigenous communities play such an indispensable role in protecting ecosystems which sustain life on our planet,” according to UNDP administrator Helen Clark.
About two-thirds of the world’s estimated 400 million indigenous peoples live in Asia, according to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA).
Indigenous wisdom
In the course of the day, partners of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) will highlight their issues and contributions to combat climate change.
At 11 am (Paris time), a panel discussion will tackle good indigenous practices and urgent climate change issues from the region.
- Malaysia will share successful environmentally- friendly initiatives such as micro-hydro and community-led fisheries management system.
- Indonesia will discuss about pressoing issues in forest and peat land of Indonesia
- Nepal is going to share the climate change adaptation of indigenous peoples in Nepal.
- Lao PDR will talk about the sustainable livelihoods of indigenous peoples, particularly shifting cultivation.
‘Drones for justice’
The use of community drones is spreading all over Indonesia and neighboring countries, and indigenous peoples are catching up.
At 1 pm (Paris time), another event will showcase how indigenous peoples, researchers, and civil society are collaborating to map initiatives using drones to protect the remaining indigenous and locally managed land and forest from the massive land grabbing in West Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia.
At 2:45 pm (Paris time), a panel discussion on the impacts of climate change on indigenous peoples:
- Threats to livelihoods and traditional knowledge of Karen and Lua indigenous communities in Thailand
- Drought, flooding, and typhoons in Taiwan
- Climate change refugees in upper Mustang in the Himalaya of Nepal
- Discrimination against indigenous women and indigenous people with disabilities in the earthquake response in Nepal
- Impacts of climate change in Myanmar
– Rappler.com
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