From UNPFII to COP28: Indigenous Values & Knowledge Systems for Planetary Health & Climate Change

Co-hosted by COP28, the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, and the UNFCCC Secretariat

Wednesday 19 April | 1:30 -2:45 PM ET | Register here: https://forms.gle/jUNiF9YyAjrzUg2g9

Indigenous Peoples have a deep connection to the natural world, recognizing the interdependence between humans, more-than-humans, and the Land, Water, Air, and Ice.  Their values and knowledge systems can help transform how the global community approaches the urgent challenges of climate change and biodiversity decline, including in the definition of their root drivers.

The UAE COP28 Presidency and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, in collaboration with the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), and the UNFCCC secretariat, will hold an event to delve deep into the profound and symbiotic relationship between Indigenous values and knowledge systems and planetary health amidst pressing challenges of climate change, two thematic areas of the 22nd session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). This discussion hopes to foster equitable and ethical dialogue to identify concrete ways/examples/steps to support Indigenous Peoples in weaving their values and knowledge systems into the development and implementation of climate policies and actions, now and in the future. 

Objective:  the event taking place on the margins of the 22nd session of the UNPFII aims to:

  1. Provide space for Indigenous Peoples to share their perspectives on addressing the interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation.
  2. Highlight specific case stories of the values, practices, and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples promoting planetary health and collective well-being, as well as their connection to climate change.
  3. Facilitate dialogue and exchange among Indigenous Peoples, governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders on how to bring about transformative policies and actions that are rooted in and guided by Indigenous values and knowledge systems toward achieving collective well-being, with a view to build momentum to COP28 outcomes.

Format: An interactive panel of high-level speakers will be followed by a discussion and will be guided by the following questions:

  • What does planetary health mean to you? Is there a word in your language to describe this concept?
  • How does planetary health relate to climate change? How could Indigenous Peoples, including their values and knowledge systems, be better considered and reflected in the global dialogue on planetary health and climate change?
  • How could these recommendations be better reflected and implemented in climate change discussions?

This event will be jointly hosted by H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, and Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, UNPFII Member and IIPFCC co-chair.

Agenda:

TimeAgenda
1:30 – 1:35Opening
1:35 – 1:45Opening remarks H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Co-Chair, International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change
1:45 – 2:40Panel discussion moderated by Razan Al Mubarak and Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim: Miriam Castillo, University of TorontoXiye Bastida, Re-Earth InitiativeGrace Balawag, Tebtebba FoundationGideon Abraham Ole Sanago, Pastoralists Indigenous Non Governmental Organization Gunn-Britt Retter,  Saami Council
2:40 – 2:45Closing Ceremony