Declaration of the First International Forum of Indigenous
Peoples on Climate Change
Lyon, France
September 4-6, 2000

Introduction

We, the Indigenous Peoples, have historically played an active role in the conservation of eco-systems crucial to the prevention of climate change such as forests, wetlands and coastal and marine areas. Long ago, our sciences foretold of the severe impacts of Western "development" models based on indiscriminate clear-cutting, oil exploitation, mining, carbon-emitting industries, permanent organic pollutants and the insatiable consumption of the industrialized countries. Today, these unsustainable models threaten the very life of Mother Earth and the lives of all of us who are her children.  

The scientists of Western society have dismissed us as sentimental and superstitious and accused us of being an obstacle to development. Paradoxically, those that previously turned deaf ears to our warnings, now are dismayed because their own model of "development' endangers our Mother Earth.  

At long last, the international community has been forced to recognize that climate change threatens the very survival of humanity. Despite the recognition of our role in preventing global warming, when it comes time to sign international conventions like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, once again, our right to participate in national and international discussions that directly affect our Peoples and territories is denied.  

Our active opposition to oil exploration, logging and mining helps prevent the accelerated deterioration of the climate. Nonetheless, our territories have been handed over to national and multinational corporations which exploit our natural resources in an indiscriminate and unsustainable fashion.  

Any decision or action that the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) or recommendations to other organs must include our full and effective participation. Our efforts to maintain the integrity of Mother Earth have been recognized by the United Nations and our participation includes and is established by:  

The Working Group on Indigenous Populations under the Subcomission of Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities of the UN; 

The Working Group on Indigenous Populations under the Subcommission of Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities of the UN; 

The Working Group on the Draft Declaration of Indigenous Peoples of the Commission on Human Rights of the UN; 

The Working Group on Article 8 (j) and Connex Articles of the Convention on Biological Diversity which includes, among other issues, systems of traditional knowledge; the recognition of traditional knowledge systems in the Intergovernmental Dialogue on Forests (including the Panel, Intergovernmental Forum and the United Nations Forum on Forests); 

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Affairs to be established by ECOSOC in the United Nations; the recognition of the Indigenous  as Major Groups in Agenda 21, chapter 26, and the Rio Declaration; the International Labor Organizations Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in independent countries; the elaboration of policies of the European Union, the United Nations Development (UNDP) and the World Bank guidelines on Indigenous Peoples.  

Before the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, we had already made concrete political contributions to mitigating climate change. For example, Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon forged a mutually beneficial alliance with European Cities in joint program of the Climate Alliance, the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) and the International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests.

Key positions of Indigenous Peoples present at the UNFCCC 13th Session of Subsidiary Bodies Meeting are as follows: 

SINKS
Our intrinsic relation with Mother Earth obliges us to oppose the inclusion of sinks in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) because it reduces our sacred land and territories to mere carbon sequestration which is contrary to our cosmovision and philosophy of life. Sinks in the CDM would constitute a worldwide strategy for expropriating our lands and territories and violating our fundamental rights that would culminate in a new form of colonialism. Sinks in the CDM would not help to reduce GHG emissions, rather it would provide industrialized countries with a ploy to avoid reducing their emissions at source.  

Clean Development Mechanism The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) established by the Kyoto Protocol offers both negative and positive possibilities. The CDM will not be a solution to global warming if it diffuses or obfuscates the responsibility of industrialized countries to reduce their GHG. It must not be used to allow Annex I countries to continue poisoning the environment. Sinks in the CDM pose the threat of invasion and lost of our land and territories by establishing new regimes for protected areas and privatization. We emphatically oppose the inclusion of sinks, plantations, nuclear power, megahydroelectric and coal. Furthermore, we oppose the development of a carbon market that would broaden the scope of globalization. However, we do support the Positive List including the development of alternative energies that foster sustainable development.

Public Participation Indigenous Peoples demand that the principles of transparency, prior informed consultation and consent, independent third party verification and monitoring, benefit sharing, risk reduction, appeals mechanism and compensation be guaranteed. Furthermore, we emphasize the need for these principles to be applied in culturally and linguistically appropriate manners. 

LULUCF
Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) in the Protocol has profound consequences for our lands and territories since it does not recognize the land rights nor customary land use of Indigenous Peoples.   

The definitions of afforestation, reforestation and deforestation must not contribute to the destruction of our native eco-systems, forests, lands, territories nor to the violation of our collective and individual rights.

A broad definition of "additional activities" would permit Annex I countries to meet the most of their emissions reduction targets with LULUCF and continue with "business as usual" which would not mitigate climate change at all. We reject granting carbon credits for "additional activities."

Adaptation Fund
We enthusiastically support the creation and funding of the Adaptation Fund. Since we sadly foresee that our Peoples will continue to suffer the adverse impacts of climate change, we demand our inclusion as beneficiaries of such a Fund. Monies for this Fund should be garnered from punitive fines for the failure of Annex I countries to meet their emissions reduction targets or for inaccurate carbon accounting or national inventories.

AIJ Pilot Phase
We deem it necessary that the UNFCCC support the need of Indigenous Peoples to conduct our own independent critique and evaluation of AIJ projects and their impacts and ramifications for the rights and lands of our Peoples.

Articles 5, 7 & 8
We propose that our Peoples and experts be included in the assessment and analysis of climate change in Annex I countries provided for in Articles 5, 7 & 8.

Capacity Building 
Since our Peoples are on the frontlines of the adverse impacts of climate change, we must be included in the UNFCCC capacity building initiatives and propose that special, specific capacity building be undertaken for Indigenous Peoples. Such capacity building would fortify our ability to exercise our right to full participation in the climate change negotiations.

Compliance
We call for the cancellation of carbon credits and punitive fines if Annex I countries fail to meet their emission reduction targets or submit inaccurate Carbon accounting or inventories.

Given these considerations, we recommend:

1. That the Conference of Parties VI recognize the fundamental role of Indigenous Peoples and their organizations in climate change prevention and environmental conservation and accredit Indigenous Peoples with special status in all the organs, activities and COPs of the UNFCCC. 

2. That COP 6 approve the creation of a Working Group of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change, as well as, recognizing the Forum of Indigenous People on Climate Change. Furthermore that COP 6 provide the necessary support including full effective participation in all levels of discussion, decision-making and implementation, as well as ensuring that the necessary funding be provided to guarantee said  participation and to strengthen its capacity;

3. That the UNFCCC and its processes establish relations with other spaces and processes that affect Indigenous Peoples, including the Commission on Human Rights, ECOSOC, the pending Permanent Forum of Indigenous Peoples, the International Labor Organization, the Convention on Biodiversity and the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests among others.

4. That the UNFCCC and its Secretariat create, provide and distribute information on the negotiations and process for Indigenous Peoples to further foster our participation, positions adoption and contributions;

5. That the decisions on the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol include provisions that recognize and establish all the fundamental rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

6. That the Subsidiary Bodies recommend that COP 6 refrain from adopting guidelines for the CDM until substantial debate and discussions including Indigenous Peoples occurs. 

We, the Indigenous Peoples, consider that the concerns and recommendations expressed in this declaration will help the peoples of the world to reduce climate change and contribute to sustainable development. 

Signed by the following Indigenous Peoples and local community representatives present at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Subsidiary Bodies meetings in Lyon, France, September 8, 2000: 

Parshu Ram Tamang, Nepal 
International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal
Peoples of the Tropical Forests

Alejandro Argumedo, Peru 
Indigenous Knowledge Program 

Mario Ibarra, Geneva 
International Indian Treaty Council 

Clark Peteru, Samoa
Indigenous Peoples' Biodiversity Network

Hector Huertas, Panama 
MesoAmerican Indigenous Organizations 
on Climate Change 

Kalimba Zephyrin, Rwanda
Association for the Promotion of Batwans

Edwin Vasquez, Peru 
Inter-ethnic Development Association of 
The Peruvian Jungle (AIDESEP)

Johnson Cerda, Ecuador
Amazon Alliance

Antonio Jacanamijoy, Columbia 
Coordinating Body of the Indigenous 
Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) 

Jose Luis Gonzalez, Venezuela
The Indigenous Federation of Bolivar

Hendro Sangkoyo, Indonesia 
Consortium for Community Forest Systems 

Raymond de Chavez, Philippines 
TEBTEBBA Foundation, ` 
Indigenous Peoples International
Center for Policy, 
Research & Education

Sam Ferrer, Philippines
Climate Action Network