June Climate Meetings in Bonn provide important opportunity for Indigenous Peoples

Written on 01 June 2026. Posted in News

In partnership with the Indigenous Peoples’ constituency, IWGIA will participate and engage in advocacy at the UNFCCC June Climate Meetings (SB 64) in Bonn, Germany, 8-18 June 2026.

SB 64 constitutes an important opportunity for Indigenous Peoples to build on the momentum from last year's UNFCCC COP 30 in Belém, Brazil. For Indigenous Peoples, the most significant advancement of COP 30 was contained in the Just Transition Work Programme decision.

For the first time ever, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was referenced in an operative paragraph. Paragraph 12(i) recognizes the importance of the rights of Indigenous Peoples “...and of obtaining their free, prior, and informed consent”. It calls for all just transition pathways to “...respect and promote the internationally recognized collective and individual rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the rights to self-determination, and acknowledge the rights and protections for Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact”. The decision also committed to the development of a new Just Transition Mechanism intended to support international cooperation, technical assistance and capacity-building.

Now at SB 64 in June, State Parties will once again meet for negotiations and the Just Transition Mechanism will be one of the key areas of focus.

> Read more about Indigenous advocacy at COP 30 in The Indigenous World 2026 <

IWGIA’s planned engagement

IWGIA will be in Bonn to support the advocacy of the Indigenous Peoples’ constituency organised under the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change. We are also providing travel support to Indigenous representatives from four socio-cultural regions of the world to attend these important climate meetings.

> Contact / Press: Stefan Thorsell, Climate Advisor, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. <

IWGIA will also be part of the following two side events:

Indigenous Peoples’ visions for a space in UNFCCC decision-making: Reflections for the FWG review

At COP 32 in 2027, the Facilitative Working Group (FWG) will be reviewed. With calls for submissions already open in 2026, this side event explores Indigenous Peoples’ visions for an influential space in UNFCCC decision-making. The panel brings together Indigenous FWG members from diverse socio-cultural regions, Indigenous representatives engaged in CBD Subsidiary Body on Art. 8(j), and state party delegates. 

Date: Tuesday, 9 June 2026
Time: 15.00-16.15 CEST
Room: Berlin
Interpretation: Spanish, Portuguese, and English
Virtual attendance: Possibly for delegates with virtual accreditation (only English language)

Organised by AIPP, CSIPN, IPF, IWGIA, NEFIN, PINGO’s Forum

Equitable Knowledge Partnerships with Indigenous Peoples for Climate Action within LCIPP and GST

Convenes Indigenous Peoples from seven UN socio-cultural regions, science funders, FWG members and Parties to advance ethical, equitable knowledge partnerships that strengthen Paris Agreement implementation and support inclusive, rights-based climate action for future LCIPP and the Global Stocktake. While IWGIA is not official co-organiser of this event, a of Indigenous Peoples and their Knowledge Systems within the UNFCCC co-published by IWGIA, will be launched.

Date: Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Time: 15.00-16.15 CEST
Room: Kaminzimmer
Virtual attendance: Possibly for delegates with virtual accreditation

Organised by AFN, CIPRED, IAI, University of Geneva

Tags: Global governance, Climate