Indigenous people represent 5% of the world's population, yet live in 85% of the proposed areas for biodiversity conservation
As the Global Climate Pledge, we aim to uplift Indigenous voices in environmental action. There are a total of 476 million known Indigenous people across 90 countries. This amounts to a total of 5,000 unique cultures. As observers of the environment for thousands of years, Indigenous people know how to properly care for the regions. However, systemic inequities and a lack of access to proper resources decrease the reach of Indigenous voices. Climate change impacts these communities first, so we must include them in environmental action.
Indigenous Importance
Indigenous people and communities have lived a traditional and sustainable lifestyle for thousands of years. They have been known to be caretakers of their environment, respecting their environment and wildlife, protecting their lands, and utilizing vital traditional knowledge and expertise for survival. The land and natural resources that Indigenous peoples depend on are intertwined with all aspects of their lives including their identities, cultures, livelihoods, physical and spiritual well-being. Today, Indigenous communities safeguard ~80% of conservation areas. However, Indigenous peoples are not receiving sufficient legal recognition, rights, and respect. Many times, they are not given formal, economic and social development rights over their land. This has harmful impacts to the survival of Indigenous culture and the vital traditional knowledge they hold – both of which largely contribute to ecological integrity, biodiversity, and environmental health.
Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change
With centuries of vital knowledge, Indigenous communities may hold key information that can be largely beneficial in climate change mitigation and adaptation techniques. In 2014, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) stated that Indigenous knowledge systems “are a major resource for adapting to climate change.” Indigenous communities have high adaptability skills and in-depth knowledge of their environment that have played a major role in survival and livelihood for generations. Compared to science, Indigenous knowledge is much more spatial and temporal, and contains understandings on how to predict environmental variability and trends, making it easier for them to cope and adapt.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is a deep-rooted knowledge of Earth and its natural resources by the people who have adapted to the land over several thousands of years. Their knowledge of their environment has not only helped their survival over generations, but also how to honor and respect their land. Indigenous peoples hands-on knowledge of their local land can provide insightful knowledge to how we can tackle climate change. Researchers are using TEK to tap into this traditional wisdom and are beginning to understand how this knowledge can be used in climate change solutions.
Signatories Spotlight
The Kuntanawa Nation
- The Kuntanawa reside in the State of Acre in the Brazilian Amazon. They are the first Indigenous nation partnered with the Global Climate Pledge
- Leaders Haru (right) and Hayra Kuntanawa (left) oversee their “Transform and Illuminate” sustainable horticulture project that will involve 31 Indigenous rainforest communities
- The Kuntanawa Nation faces droughts, food insecurity, deforestation, and pressure from slash-and-burn farming methods
Watch the video leader Haru Kuntanawa recorded for the Global Climate Pledge:
TreeSisters
- Clare Dubois (pictured here) and Bernadette Ryder co-founded TreeSisters in 2010
- Since its founding, the organization has funded the planting of 14.7 million trees to date
- They dedicate a series, “Indigenous Wisdom for the Earth,” to feature Indigenous speakers on webinars made accessible to all TreeSisters on their website
- Their aim includes reforesting areas in the Amazon with the collaboration of the Indigenous people who reside there
