Indigenous Peoples call for Climate Action at COP 26

Written on 29 October 2021. Posted in News

COP26 – the two-week UN Climate Change Conference – begins next week in Glasgow.

As in previous years, IWGIA will be there in partnership and alongside Indigenous Peoples to support their engagement, messages and mission to influence the outcomes of this key climate conference, continuing to call for and ensure that Indigenous Peoples, their rights and their lands are included, recognised and protected in climate policies and negotiations.

IWGIA's in-person delegation to the COP includes eight Indigenous representatives from four socio-cultural regions of the world who will bring their expertise, perspectives and demands to the COP. Our staff, including Executive Director Kathrin Wessendorf, Climate Advisor Stefan Thorsell and Indigenous Navigator Programme Coordinator Ena Alvarado Madsen, will also be there to support the Indigenous agenda and engage directly with decision-makers.

We will, as always, be supporting the Indigenous Peoples Caucus – the International Indigenous Peoples´ Forum on Climate Change – at which more than 100 members are expected to participate in person and more online, as well as the Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion in the Blue Zone which will host around 70 advocacy events throughout the two weeks. We are also supporting Spanish language intercultural news agency Servindi in covering the COP from Indigenous Peoples´ perspective.

IWGIA is organising the following events in Glasgow:

Acknowledging Indigenous Peoples’ technologies and identifying linkages with the UNFCCC Technology Needs Assessments

Indigenous Peoples, who are often the custodians of knowledge, can be powerful agents of change when engaged in national planning processes such as the Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), a set of country-driven activities designed to help identify and facilitate the implementation of countries’ climate technology priorities under the UNFCCC. This event aims to increase awareness and build capacity of participants on the necessity and added value of including Indigenous Peoples and their knowledge into such national processes.

2 November, 16:45, Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion, Blue Zone

Organised by IWGIA, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), Enda Energie, UNEP DTU Partnership

Not in Glasgow? Watch the event here (link coming)

Indigenous calls for climate action – A screening of 4 documentary films giving voice to Indigenous Peoples from Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Myanmar

The event will give the audience a unique insight into Indigenous knowledge holders’ reflections on the climate crisis. The voices of Indigenous women, men and youth from Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Myanmar will be heard at this screening of award-winning documentaries by the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs - IWGIA. The audience will also be given the opportunity to ask questions to Indigenous representatives as well as to the producer.

The Indigenous testimonies in the documentary films will make the audience put aside the negotiation texts for a moment, and refocus on the real and urgent reason of why we are gathered at COP 26. The reflections and wisdoms by Indigenous knowledge holders will provide insights into Indigenous Peoples’ environmental stewardship and sustainable living from which society ought to listen and learn.

The documentary films will have Spanish/English subtitles/dubbing, and interpretation will be provided for the Q&A session.

5 November, 15:30-17:00, Cinema Auditorium, Green Zone

Organised by IWGIA, Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampis Nation (GTANW), Promotion of Indigenous and Nature Together (POINT)

Not in Glasgow? Watch the event here

A battle for peoples and planet – Indigenous Peoples’ rights in climate action under threat

The Paris Agreement cemented universal consensus to respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights in climate action. The IPCC has called for securing land rights as key to mitigate climate change. Despite this, Indigenous Peoples’ rights are currently undermined both in the negotiations rooms and on the ground.

9 November, 13:15-14:30, Strangford Lough, Blue Zone

Organised by: IWGIA, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN)

Not in Glasgow? Watch the event here

Contact us / Stay updated

We'll be posting updates and news on our social media: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

All participants are available in Glasgow for interview.

Contact in Glasgow:
Stefan Thorsell, Climate Advisor, +45 5373 2842, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

International media contact:
Dwayne Mamo, Communications Manager, +45 5373 2837, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Danish media contact:
Karl Johnsen, Danish Media and Advocacy Manager, +45 5373 2843, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tags: Business and Human Rights , Climate, Human rights, Biodiversity, International Processes