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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 has been recognized by the United Nations and our participation includes and 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 indigenous as Major Groups in Agenda 21, chapter 26, and the Rio Declaration; the International Labor Organizations Convention 169 on Indigenuos 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:

"Nowhere else will you be able to find such powerful-knowledge filled writing." -Wilma Mankiller, Editorial Board Member of Native Americas Journal

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Indigenous peoples of the tropical rainforest and the CDM

Representatives of indigenous peoples' organizations in South America, North America, the Pacific and Africa gathered at this event on the final day of the SB-13 negotiations to report on their lobbying activities at the Lyon meeting and exchange views on emerging climate-related issues. There was a particular focus on issues surrounding access to protected areas and anticipated problems linked to the development of CDM projects. The event was convened by Lioba Rossbach de Olmos of the Climate Alliance of European Cities.

Raymond A. De Chavez, Tebtebba Foundation, reported a "degree of success" following his lobbying activities in Lyon, where he raised indigenous peoples' concerns about sinks issues, plantations, and protected areas that may be included in territories designated as carbon sinks. Johnson Cerda, Amazon Alliance, described how peoples inhabiting the Ecuadorian Amazon have been rendered invisible and denied access to their lands, as agencies pursue conservation plans but fail to manage the lands in consultation with the inhabitants. The indigenous peoples' parliament has decided not to recognize the designated protected areas. Turning to the possibility of similar issues related to the designation of lands for sequestration, he explained that indigenous peoples would seek early consultation and agreement.

A Colombian speaker described similar experiences and invited NGOs to translate the complex language of the CDM to enhance community understanding and access.

Alberto Yanosky, abiodiversity conservationist from Paraguay, described a successful protected area project and invited others to come and visit. Kalimba Zephryin (photo above, seated right), Association pour la Promotion des Batwa (APB) in Rwanda, described the expulsion of pigmy hunter gatherers' to accommodate a forestry project funded by the World Bank. Those who fled from the forest migrated to neighboring countries and ended up begging for a living.

Clark Peteru, Indigenous Peoples' Biodiversity Network (Pacific) described the impact of climate change on 5 million Pacific islanders. On LULUCF, he described the uncertainties of sink projects and challenged the motivations of industrialized countries seeking CDM credits in order to continue producing greenhouse gases. On proposals to inject carbon into the oceans, he criticized utilitarian approaches.

Jean Paul Gladu, National Aboriginal Forestry Association, described the indications and impacts of climate change affecting the livelihoods of the Inuit people in the north and of those in the Boreal forests to the south. He urged governments to include indigenous peoples' representatives in their delegations to climate change negotiations, saying it was important that governments listen with open minds and open hearts.

Discussion: Simone Lovera, FoE, Paraguay, raised the risk of donor funding to forestry initiatives being side-tracked by CDM projects. Igino Emmer, FACE Foundation, Netherlands, suggested that certification could provide suitable standards for monitoring socio-economic impacts arising from projects. Clark Peteru agreed but emphasized that it is a question of opportunity cost and recommended that funds be channelled to reducing emissions in the North. Johnson Cerda, Amazon Alliance, confirmed that the second Indigenous Peoples' Forum would take place at COP-6, The Hague.

Relevant links:
National Aboriginal Forestry Association: http://www.nafaforestry.org
Fundación Moisés Bertoni: http://www.mbertoni.org.py
Climate Alliance of European Cities: http://climatealliance.org

More information:
Raymond Chavez: tebtebba@skyinet.net
Johnson, Cerda: johnson@amazonalliance.org

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News Analysis: The Tree Trap

After 11 days of draining and unwieldy bargaining by 170 countries over the rules for a proposed treaty to fight global warming, by this morning all the issues had been narrowed to just this one: How much credit should big forested countries get for all that photosynthesis?

In that natural chemical process, trees and other plants draw carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, out of the air and stash the carbon in the ground or in wood, forming what experts have called carbon "sinks" and helping to cool the climate.

The United States, the world's largest producer of greenhouse gases and the country that potentially stands to face the greatest cost under any treaty, had originally said it might try to meet half its emission-cutting goal in just that way.

But other industrialized nations with fewer open spaces suspected the Americans of trying to find a way out of actually taking the hard steps of reducing their use of fossil fuels and of trying to get something for nothing - in effect, playing a "get out of jail free" card.

Despite a report issued during the conference from the Energy Department saying that the United States could reduce its fuel use though fairly simple, inexpensive changes - with almost no harm to the economy ’Äî conservation measures have long been resisted in a country where big cars, low gasoline prices and economic growth have come to be considered nearly inalienable rights.

But for Europeans, accustomed to high fuel taxes and Green politics, the primary goal of the treaty was to cut emissions at the source, not sop them up after the fact.

Through the final week of the conference, the United States sharply whittled down its original proposals. By dawn today, everyone later agreed, it was very close. There was a palpable sense of optimism that - after a decade of debate - the world was ready to take a step toward a cooperative, but potentially costly, effort to cut the flow of gases that scientists have linked to the warming climate.

Through the night and early this morning, environmental groups, particularly the World Wildlife Fund, helped the European delegation dissect each complicated new formula for carbon tons and trees, said Kevin R. Gurney, a climate and forest expert at Colorado State University who spent hours crunching sets of numbers provided by European negotiators to the wildlife group - one after another.

He said the final analysis came down to a 20-million-ton difference between the two sides, a minuscule amount of carbon dioxide in a world spewing 6 billion tons a year into the air.

"I think things came as close as they could come," he said. "I think they were tired and not able to translate some of that into the bottom line, and I think that did freak some of them out."

One result was that a pioneering climate deal sealed with handshakes by a few diplomats deep in the night came unglued when numbers lay under the fluorescent glare of the day.

Tonight, as he somewhat wistfully recalled that fleeting electric moment when an agreement was at hand, Jan Pronk, the president of the two-week climate meeting, compared it to the American presidential election. "At 6 o'clock this morning," he said, "it was too close to call."

People who were intimately involved with that critical moment when the tide turned say it appears that domestic political pressures, exhaustion, an exceptionally tight relationship between the Europeans and environmental groups and simply too much data to sort through in too little time all collided to destroy any environmental detente, at least for now.

In his post-game analysis tonight, Mr. Pronk said he lamented that fundamental problem with technical negotiations.

"When experts come to the table, they tend to stay too long," he said. "People leave with more questions than they had before."

On other heated issues, resolution seemed closer still. Delegates had fought over whether nuclear plants should be banned or simply not encouraged in a world combatting global warming. The technology produced no greenhouse gases, after all, but came with a load of other environmental concerns.

The compromise was the gentle verb "refrain."

There was a third bloc, the developing countries, that had its own demands, but those seemed achievable if the wealthy nations could speak with one voice, and in the end they could not.

Mr. Pronk said tonight he was disappointed, but not devastated. "I'm a professional, and I'm a believer," he said, "a professional believer."

But even as he spoke, workers dismantled the trappings of the conference, including blue and green panels bearing the logo he himself had chosen: "Work It Out."

NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for research and educational purposes.

SWAN: Listserv and forum for discussing environmental issues in the Great Lakes region. Archives at http://www.superiorwild.org

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The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) facilitated the participation of Mr. Robert Gough, representative of the Inter-tribal Council on Utility Policy (COUP) at the 3rd International Forum of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities on Climate Change at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - Conference of the Parties (COP6B). The Indigenous Peoples Caucus Forum took place in Bonn, Germany - July 14-15, 2001 and immediately thereafter is the UNFCCC COP6B July 16-27, 2001 also in Bonn.

We, the delegates of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and indigenous organisations in the Third International Forum of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities on Climate Change convened in Bonn on July 14th and 15th, 2001 for the second session of the sixth Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP6B); reaffirm the Alburquerque Delaration, Quito Declaration, the Lyon Declaration of the First International Forum of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities on Climate Change, and the Hague Declaration of the Second Forum.

We have historically and continue to play a fundamental role in the conservation and protection of the forests, biological diversity and the maintenance of ecosystems crucial for the prevention of severe climatic change. Long ago, our elders and our sciences foretold of the severe impacts of Western “development” models based on indiscriminate logging, oil exploitation, mining, carbon-emitting industries, persistent organic pollutants and the insatiable consumption patterns 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.

We denounce the fact that neither the UNFCCC nor the Kyoto Protocol recognizes the existence or the contributions of Indigenous Peoples. Furthermore, the debates under these instruments have not considered the suggestions and proposals of the Indigenous Peoples nor have the appropriate mechanisms to guarantee our participation in all the debates that directly concern the Indigenous Peoples been established. In this declaration, we address the Parties and other participants of this Conference to present the conclusions of our Forum.

Considerations

Indigenous Peoples, as part of the international community, have the right to self-determination over our lives, our territories and our resources. Self-determination includes, inter alia, the right to possess, control, and administer our territories. Furthermore, self-determination also includes the right to real, full and effective participation; the right to be consulted in all matters that concern us; the right to prior and informed consent and the right to veto, and that our opinions and decisions are respected.

The discussions under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol have totally excluded the indigenous peoples to the extent that neither recognizes the right of indigenous peoples to full and effective participation and to contribute to discussions and debates. This contrasts with other international processes which assure our participation and contribution within discussions.

The particular and specific rights we are demanding are consecrated in the international arena in other international instruments of equal importance to the UNFCCC, including:

The Rio de Janiero Declaration on the Environment and Development (in particular, principle 22); The Program of Action on Sustainable Development (in particular, chapters 11 and 26); The Convention on Biological Diversity (in particular, articles 8 (j) and related provisions; The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; The Statement on Forest Principles; Convention 169 of the ILO on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples; and other additonal instruments, principles and programs of the United Nations and its specialized agencies.

The concepts, practices and measures that have been proposed as solutions to the problem of climate change, such as plantations, sinks and the carbon market, among others, will result in projects with negative and adverse effects on Indigenous Peoples, our territories and our ecosystems, and in violations of our rights as Indigenous Peoples.

We openly oppose the measures to mitigate climate change under discussion that are based essentially on a mercantilist and utilitarian vision of the forests, seas, territories and resources of Indigenous Peoples, which are being exclusively valued for their capacity to absorb CO2 and produce oxygen, and which negate our traditional cultural practices and spiritual values.

We, Indigenous Peoples reject the inclusion of sinks in the Clean Development Mechanism and the definition of sinks contemplated under the Kyoto Protocol and we oppose that the forests are considered solely for their carbon sequestration capacity.

We register our disagreement with proposals surrounding definitions including Afforestation, Deforestation and Reforestation proposed in the context of the UNFCCC. We express our grave concern that the UNFCCC ignores the concept of conservation, the importance of biodiversity, and the fundamental role of Indigenous Peoples in the management of our territories, forests and other ecosystems.

Based on these considerations, Indigenous Peoples will not accept, under any conditions, agreements or guidelines that limit, deny or violate these previously recognized rights.

Call To Action

• recognize the fundamental role of Indigenous Peoples and their organizations in the conservation of the environment and the prevention and mitigation of climate change;
• establish - in consultation with indigenous organizations a Special Status for the representative organizations of Indigenous Peoples to participate in the Conference of Parties, the Subsidiary Body and other activities;
• authorize the creation, regulate the functioning and approve the pertinent provisions for an Ad-Hoc Inter-Sessional Working Group on Indigenous Peoples of the UNFCCC.

2.       We have the obligation to inform the international community about our grave concern regarding the social, cultural, economic and security threats posed by climate change to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities living in small island states. Given the extreme urgency of the need for adaptation activities in small island states, we urge that an Adaptation Fund be immediately established and activated with the full participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, even if the Kyoto Protocol is not ratified.

Conclusions

We, the representatives of the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities who participated in the Third International Forum of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities on Climate Change are profoundly convinced of the sacred character of Mother Earth. We also continue to be gravely concerned about the effects of climate change in our territories.

We reiterate our decision to continue contributing to the debates of the UNFCCC. We demand a full compliance of said instrument and at the same time we demand full participation in all the debates.

We are convinced that our philosophies and traditional practices are the most appropriate for the management of the ecosystems of our territories. Finally, we are also particularly concerned about the emergence of “biocolonialism” and “environmental racism” that Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities of the world continually confront.

The damage caused by climate change exacerbates existing concerns and inequities, and constitutes a matter of environmental and climate justice. The issue confronting humanity today is one of justice.

The UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol were developed to address climate change without the participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and constitute a shameful ethical and moral precedent for the future of humanity.

Document approved in Bonn on Monday the 15th of July 2001, by the signatories below.

• Antonio Jacanamijoy Tisoy, Columbia
• Coordinating Body for the Indigenous Peoples Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA)
• Parshu Ram Tamang, Nepal
• International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests
• Johnson Cerda, Ecuador
• Amazon Alliance
• Raymond de Chavez, Philippines
• TEBTEBBA Foundation
• Patrina Dumaru, Fiji
• Pacific Concerns Resource Centre
• Marcial Arias Garcia, Panama
• Foundation for the Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge
• Napguana Association
• Sandy Gauntlett, New Zealand
• International Research Institute for Maori and Indigenous Education
• Héctor Huertas González, Panama
• Center for Popular Legal Assistance (CEALP)
• Robert Gough, USA
• Intertribal Council On Utility Policy
• Indigenous Environmental Network
• Mario Ibarra, Switzerland
• International Indian Treaty Council
• Alfred Ilenre, Nigeria
• Ethnic minority and Indigenous Rights Organizations of Africa (EMIROAF)
• Sebastião Alves Rodrígues Manchineri, Brazil
• Coordinating Body for the Indigenous Peoples Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA)
• Lucy Mulenkei, Kenya
• Indigenous Information Network
• African Indigenous Women Organization
• Kittisak Rattanakrajangsri, Thailand
• IMPECT
• Inter-Mountain People Education and Culture in Thailand Association
• Hendro Sangkoyo, Indonesia
• Consortium for Community Forest Systems
• Sergei Shapkhaev, Russia
• Buryat Regional Department of Lake Baikal
• Stella Tamang, Nepal
• Bikalpa Gyan Kendra
• Jocelyn Roger Therese, French Guyana
• Federation of Amerindian Organizations of French Guyana (FOAG)
• Coordinating Body for the Indigenous Peoples Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA)
• Penninah Zaninka, Uganda
• Emanzi / United Organization for Batwa Development in Uganda
• Carlos Enrique Batzin Chojoj, Guatemala
• Mayan Saqb’e Center