Australia 3b. Bilateral – Analyse Climate Change Solutions Using Our Deliberative Process

Environment   Oct 25, 2017 by Maya Baxter - Pimlico SHS

Australia 3b. Bilateral – Analyse Climate Change Solutions Using Our Deliberative Process

Through examining the information from the REDD+ Web platform and the Indigenous Climate Network, our group learned how they each individually strive to make a difference in their own sense, while in other ways interlocking and unwittingly working together to enhance their effect on the community, climate change and other environmental and economic justice issues.

REDD+, a member of the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change, Commences programs and activities globally to help reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. An example of one of these activities would be the Submission provided by Australia. This submission was the International Forest Carbon Initiative (IFCI) where the international community agreed in Bali that action must be taken now to address deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries and to establish the necessary systems and financial mechanisms to ensure long term emission reductions. This is only one representation of how Redd+ is taking action; it also has a forum in which was developed to enhance sharing of information, experiences and lessons globally.

Redd+ program has included fact sheets which provides basic information on important topics related to Redd+ implantation. This includes references to relevant COP decisions and non-legal summaries of these. These fact sheets include the topics capacity building, drivers of deforestation, REDD+ MRV and results-based payments, UNFCCC documents, relevant for REDD+, national strategy, forest reference levels, national forest monitoring system, safeguards, warsaw framework for REDD+ along with UNFCCC negotiations.

IEN’s activities include building the capacity of Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, health of both our people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities. Indigenous communities, tribes, inter-tribal and Indigenous organizations, people-of-colour/ethnic organizations, faith-based and women groups, youth, labour, environmental organizations and others. Their goals include the following:

• Educate and empower Indigenous Peoples to address and develop strategies for the protection of our environment, our health, and all life forms – the Circle of Life.
• Re-affirm our traditional knowledge and respect of natural laws.
• Recognize, support, and promote environmentally sound lifestyles, economic livelihoods, and to build healthy sustaining Indigenous communities.
• Commitment to influence policies that affect Indigenous Peoples on a local, tribal, state, regional, national and international level.
• Include youth and elders in all levels of our work.
• Protect our human rights to practice our cultural and spiritual beliefs.

The Indigenous Environmental Network is incorporated under the non-profit organizational name of Indigenous Educational Network of Turtle Island. Donations to the Indigenous Environmental Network are to be processed through the Indigenous Educational Network of Turtle Island. Environmental and economic justice issues in indigenous lands located in US/Canada include:

• Toxic contaminants, agricultural pesticides and other industrial chemicals that disproportionately impact Indigenous peoples, especially subsistence and livestock cultures.
• Clean up of contaminated lands from mining, military, and other industry activities.
• Toxic incinerators and landfills on and near Indigenous lands.
• National energy policies at the expense of the rights of Indigenous peoples.
• Climate change and global warming.
• Coal mining and coal-fired power plants resulting in mercury contamination, water depletion, destruction of sacred sites and environmental degradation.
• Nuclear waste dumping in Indigenous lands.
• Deforestation.
• Water rights, water quantity and privatization of water.
• Economic globalization putting stress on Indigenous peoples and local ecosystems.

To summarise, both groups are striving to make a difference with their increasing effect on the community, climate change and other environmental and economic justice issues. The REDD+ program commences programs and activities globally to help reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation; while The Indigenous Environmental Networks are building the capacity of Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites. By highlighting important issues and taking action globally, these two organisations are improving the wellbeing of our planet and its inhabitants.

By Alisha Gale in conjunction with Paris Gillis and Tegan Lewis

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