IIPFCC Opening Statement at the UNFCCC meeting in Tianjin, China- October 4, 2010

INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Tianjin, China, 4th of October-2010

Opening Statement of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Actions (AWG-LCA)

Madame Chairperson,

Thank you very much for allowing us to take the floor on behalf of the International Indigenous Forum on Climate Change (IIFCC)

We would like to thank the Parties which have made possible the inclusion of the rights, participation, resources and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples in the current negotiation texts, despite the fact that it is still in brackets. I am sure if the brackets are removed, we will be able to provide important agreements and contributions to safeguard our Mother Earth. In this sense, and based on the agreements achieved in the International Workshop Between Indigenous Peoples and Government Representatives on Climate Change, celebrated in Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico from 27-29 of September-2010, we express that any final negotiation text on climate change shall take into account the following proposals:

1. The recognition of rights of indigenous peoples consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ( right to self determination, lands, territories and all resources, Free Prior and Informed Consent, Traditional knowledge and sustainable livelihoods, equitable benefit sharing, etc.) as well as other relevant international human rights norms and standards.

2. Ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in all mechanisms, bodies and procedures established under the UNFCCC (Mitigation, Adaptation, Finance, MRV, Technology Transfer, etc).

3. Ensure the inclusion, recognition and protection of indigenous peoples traditional knowledge, cultural heritage, spiritual beliefs, traditional cultural expressions, indigenous technologies and innovations.

4. Guarantee the direct and immediate access by indigenous peoples to finance, appropriate technology and capacity building.

5. Recognize the specific vulnerabilities of peoples, including Indigenous peoples, and not only countries regarding the impacts of climate change.

6. Specific references to indigenous peoples in the negotiation texts must include both developed and developing countries.

7. Ensure gender and inter-generational equity (children, women, and youth, elderly).

Madame Chairperson,

Indigenous Peoples together share the hope that this year the world will be able to give concrete steps to address the global crisis of climate change. We will continue to work hard in all parts of the world to express our concerns and proposals, so that together we can safeguard the life not only of Mother Earth, but also that of all human beings that inhabits it, especially this year in which we celebrate the international year of biodiversity.




Source : http://www.indigenousportal.com/Climate-Change/IIPFCC-Opening-Statement-at-the-UNFCCC-meeting-in-Tianjin-China-October-4-2010.html