INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

This report, produced by the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), serves as a compilation of decisions and conclusions adopted by the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that reference Indigenous Peoples and traditional knowledge. Updated to reflect the outcomes of the Katowice Climate Conference (COP-24), the document outlines the legal framework provided by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and tracks the increasing integration of Indigenous rights and knowledge into climate policies, specifically highlighting the establishment of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform.

• Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately affected by climate change due to their dependence on fragile ecosystems, yet they contribute very little to greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, climate policies can sometimes harm them by restricting their relationship with ecosystems or causing forced relocations for infrastructure and energy projects.
• The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), adopted in 2007, establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous Peoples. It affirms their right to self-determination, autonomy in internal affairs, and the right to not be subjected to forced assimilation or the destruction of their culture.
• The Paris Agreement explicitly requires Parties to respect, promote, and consider their obligations regarding the rights of Indigenous Peoples when taking action to address climate change. It also specifies that adaptation action should be guided by the best available science and, where appropriate, traditional knowledge and the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples.
• The Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform was established under decision 1/CP.21 to strengthen the knowledge, technologies, and practices of these groups in responding to climate change. Its functions include promoting the exchange of best practices for preserving traditional knowledge, building capacity for engagement in the UNFCCC process, and integrating diverse knowledge systems into national and international climate policies.
• The Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform Facilitative Working Group was established by decision 2/CP.24. It consists of 14 representatives, including seven from Indigenous Peoples organizations (one from each of the seven UN indigenous sociocultural regions), one representative from a Party, one from a small island developing State, and one from a least developed country Party.
• The UNFCCC process has increasingly recognized the value of traditional knowledge across various thematic areas. In adaptation, it is viewed as a basis for developing resource management strategies; in deforestation (REDD+), the Cancun Safeguards emphasize the need to respect Indigenous rights; and in technology, there is a focus on enhancing endogenous capacities and harnessing Indigenous knowledge.
• The report identifies a gap between the consensus-based decisions adopted by the UNFCCC and the actual implementation of climate policies. Many projects implemented under the guise of climate action continue to ignore traditional knowledge or disregard the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2019). INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Indigenous-Peoples-and-Traditional-Knowledge-in-the-Context-of-the-UNFCCC-2019-Update.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE. 2019. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Indigenous-Peoples-and-Traditional-Knowledge-in-the-Context-of-the-UNFCCC-2019-Update.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE |date=2019 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Indigenous-Peoples-and-Traditional-Knowledge-in-the-Context-of-the-UNFCCC-2019-Update.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2019indigenous, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2019}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Indigenous-Peoples-and-Traditional-Knowledge-in-the-Context-of-the-UNFCCC-2019-Update.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }