Statement
of the International Forum of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change
at the high level segment of the 13th Conference of the Parties
and the 3rd Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol of The UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change
December 14, 2007
- Bali, Indonesia
Thank you, Mr. President Chair and delegates
On behalf of the International
Forum of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change (IFIPCC), I would like
to draw your attention to the fact that more than 80% of the world's
biodiversity and most of the forests are found within our territories.
Indigenous peoples also represent some 350 million individuals in
the world and make up 90% of the world's cultural diversity. Yet,
we are suffering the worst impacts of climate change without having
contributed to its creation as clearly evident in many parts of the
Indigenous Peoples lands and which threatens our very survival.
We, Indigenous Peoples, have addressed
our concerns to the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties since SBSTA 13
in Lyon, France, 2000. However, despite years of experience and efforts
to participate in this process, and despite also the resounding support
and approval this year of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples, we are profoundly disappointed that, even as
the United Nations' Second International Decade of Indigenous Peoples
begins, states are still ignoring our demands and contributions and
we have even been shut out of this Bali process. This is unacceptable.
Mr. President, the IFIPCC
takes this opportunity to again reaffirm the following:
a. We demand the creation of an
Expert Group on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples with the full
participation and representation of Indigenous Peoples, taking into
account the example of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous
Issues (UNPFII) that includes indigenous experts;
b. We demand the creation of a
voluntary fund for the full and meaningful participation of Indigenous
Peoples, such as that which exists in the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD);
c. We demand that the Conference
of the Parties recognize and take action to curb the adverse impacts
of climate change on indigenous peoples; and to refrain from adaptation
and mitigation schemes and projects promoted as solutions to climate
change that devastate Indigenous Peoples' lands and territories and
cause more human rights violations, like market based mechanisms,
carbon trading, agrofuels and especially avoided deforestation (REDD).
All adaptation and mitigation plans affecting Indigenous communities
must follow the principles of free prior and informed consent of Indigenous
communities, especially those mostly impacted.
d. We demand full and effective
participation of Indigenous Peoples in all levels of planning, decision
making and implementation of the Nairobi Five Year Programs of Work,
including the SBI and SBSTA programs and that a human rights-based
approach be used in this work and to engage the UN Human Rights Council
to monitor the impacts of climate change mitigation and adaptation
on Indigenous Peoples.
e. We demand that any financial
mechanism agreed to here by the COP/MOP must be easily accessible
to, and allow direct access by Indigenous Peoples noting that the
Adaptation Fund is fully funded through CDM projects which cause disastrous
impacts on Indigenous Peoples lands, territories, and resources, as
well as violating their rights in ways that have ended up costing
many Indigenous Peoples lives, and force them from their lands.
f. We request the UNFCCC to submit
its reports to the 7th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous
Issues (UNPFII) in April 2008 as the main theme of this session is
on climate change and Indigenous Peoples.
Mr. President, the IFIPCC sincerely
believes that Indigenous Peoples have a role to play in this convention
and the Protocol. It is time that we all co-operate in our efforts
to address climate change in a manner that recognizes social justice,
environmental integrity, indigenous and other human rights.
TERIMA KASIH!
