An Indigenous Dayak woman weaves a basket from jungle vine she collected in the rainforests surrounding her home in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. | Flickr: David Gilbert/RAN
Climate change is a hot topic this year (ha!)
Finally, it seems like the world is on the same page and ready to work together. This December, world leaders will meet in Paris to set new climate action targets, and around the world scientists, engineers, and social entrepreneurs are coming up with inventive ideas that will help us live more sustainably and responsibly.
It’s been wonderful to witness world leaders, celebrities, activists, and scientists come together to speak out on behalf of our planet. But there’s another group we need to hear more from: indigenous communities.
There is no official definition for indigenous communities because of their inherent diversity. But, the general consensus is that they retain unique, historical traditions that are distinct from the society in which they live, and they maintain a strong link to their land and its resources.
A woman from Nepal’s Janajati indigenous community shells maize cobs. | Flickr: Subash S.P./CIMMYT
Indigenous communities are some of the first to experience the adverse effects of climate change due to their close relationship with the environment and its resources. However, these communities are often dismissed because they are believed to represent just a tiny fraction of the world’s population. Well, I’ve got news for ya: according to the UN, “there are approximately 370 million indigenous peoples occupying 20 per cent of the earth’s territory” who represent as many as 5,000 different cultures.
Woah, that’s a lot of people. Just for perspective, that’s greater than the population of the United States.
Why indigenous communities matter in regards to climate change
Indigenous communities are important for this discussion for two reasons. First, they are directly affected by many of the activities that contribute to greenhouse gasses, and second, as I’ve already mentioned, they are disproportionately affected by climate change.
Let’s start with the former.
Today, not all countries recognize indigenous people’s land rights, and some that do are more “talk” than “action.” Consequently, indigenous communities are pushed off their land so that forests and local plant life can be cut down. The space is then used for farming, or to build large dams, logging and mining facilities.
These communities are also being displaced as a result of new technologies such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Fertilizers and pesticides can damage the soil and destroy self-sustaining eco-systems where indigenous people live, making it difficult or impossible to stay. As a result, indigenous communities are forced to abandon their homes and migrate elsewhere.
The effects of climate change also exacerbate the challenges already faced by by indigenous communities. The UN reports that these include “political and economic marginalization, loss of land and resources, human rights violations, discrimination and unemployment”.
I realize that life’s not fair, but this seems especially cruel. Indigenous peoples contribute the least to greenhouse gas emissions, in fact, their involvement in the eco-systems where they live actually strengthens them.
We can’t tackle climate change without the input of indigenous communities
Iquitos kids, Peru | Flickr: nikkimacd
Even the best intentions sometimes wind up with unintended consequences, which is what has happened when indigenous communities have been left out of climate discussions. In the past, certain climate mitigation measures have led to undesirable consequences for indigenous communities, proving their input is vital.
It’s unacceptable that people are being pushed off of their land so that others can turn a profit. It’s also unjust that the same people who are most affected by climate change are not being given sufficient input as we tackle this crisis. The only way we can truly combat climate change is by making sure everyone has a chance to contribute to the discussion.
It’s on all of us to protect our planet and each other, and this is the year to do it. In addition to the Climate Conference, the UN will agree on a new to-do list (the Sustainable Development Goals, or the SDGs) that will pick up where left off (the MDGs).
That’s where Action/2015 comes in. Action/2015 is a citizen’s movement of hundreds of organizations around the world demanding truly ambitious agreements on poverty, inequality and climate change in 2015. Global Citizen has joined the movement and we want you to be a part of it.
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