Despite Historic Participation, Indigenous Peoples Are Again Sidelined in Major Decisions at COP27

The two-week 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP27) held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, came to a close on November 19, 2022. Cultural Survival’s Indigenous delegation of six was on the ground reporting directly on the most important issues concerning the climate negotiations and the implications for the rights and futures of Indigenous Peoples. During the conference, our team conducted dozens of interviews with Indigenous leaders and delegates who shared their wisdom and solutions for climate change, as well as followed the negotiations and decisions resulting from the conference. 

Monumental Participation of Indigenous Delegates

Cultural Survival celebrates Indigenous participation in Sharm El Sheikh, with more than 300 delegates. The Indigenous contingency was one of the biggest at this COP. Community leaders came to Egypt from every corner of the world to share the stories of their communities and advocate for the rights of Indigenous Peoples during the climate negotiations. Cultural Survival acknowledges the immense effort undertaken by the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) to facilitate the Indigenous Caucus, participate in negotiations with parties, as well as organize the Indigenous Peoples Pavilion, which hosted over 70 side events giving voice to the issues most important to Indigenous Peoples. This year’s Pavilion made history by having an Indigenous sponsor, NDN Collective. During COP27, we heard from many Indigenous delegations about the need for direct access to climate financing for Indigenous Peoples, as well as the need for the inclusion of specific language recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the cover text (known as the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan). Unfortunately, there are very weak references to Indigenous Peoples' rights in the cover text. 

Read the main takeaways. 

Indigenous Peoples Challenge Lack of Ambition and Rights at COP27 Close

November 10
From the COP27 Cryosphere Pavilion! Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems in the Arctic as Game Changers for Climate Action

Cultural Survival Delegate Polina Shulbaeva (Selkup) spoke about the main challenges Indigenous Peoples in the Russian Arctic are facing. 
Watch here.

November 10, 2022  
Who Pays: Climate Financing and the Real Cost of a Just Energy Transition

Cultural Survival's Executive Director, Galina Angarova spoke about the impacts of the so-called Just Transition on Indigenous Peoples and called for respect of Indigenous Peoples' right to self determination and implementation of the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent in the Transition to a Green Economy. Lesley Munoz (Colla), Cultural Survival's delegate to COP27, talked about the impacts of lithium mining in her territory on the land, water and biodiversity.
Organizers: Ford Foundation and Cultural Survival
Watch here.
 

November 11, 2022  
GLF Frontiers of Change Stewardship Economy Plenary 

Galina Angarova (Buryat), our Executive Director spoke about the need to center Indigenous Peoples' and human rights as well as true, regenerative practices as we transition to a green economy.  Healthy and sustainable economies should mirror healthy ecological systems. 
Watch here. 

November 12, 2022  
Securing Indigenous Rights in the Transition to a Green Economy

Members of the SIRGE Coalition talked about the current trends in the mining of Transition Minerals, explained how FPIC is essential to protect Indigenous Peoples' rights, shared case studies of Indigenous Peoples' engagement with the mining sector, brought attention to specific cases from communities affected by mining of Transition Minerals, introduced the SIRGE coalition and made a call to action from all stakeholders involved in the Transition to a Green Economy. 
Organizers: Global Landscape Forum (GLF) and Cultural Survival  
Watch here. 
 

November 12, 2022  
GLF Frontiers of Change Closing Plenary 

Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Koĩts-Sunuwar), Cultural Survival Community Media Program Coordinator, shared about how we can ensure development pathways create value for Indigenous and local people based on low-carbon economies.
Watch here.

November 14, 2022  
Strengthening Indigenous Peoples' Resilience through Direct Access to Climate Finance

Panelists shared about the current trends of Climate Finance for Indigenous Peoples and discussed what needs to change to ensure Indigenous Peoples from all seven socio-cultural regions have equal access to climate financing needed for climate adaptation and mitigation. 
Organizers: Cultural Survival & Tebtebba
Watch here. (start at 2:10:00)
 

Tuesday, November 15, 2022 
Weaving Perspectives Across Regions: The Need for Equitable Funding for Indigenous Women’s Leadership, Movement Building & Climate Solutions 

Indigenous Women are protecting natural resources, resisting extractive industries, protecting land and territory rights, upholding ancestral knowledge, and organizing by centering the rights, needs, voices of Indigenous Women, Girls, LGBTQ2+ Peoples. Yet, resourcing for Indigenous Women’s movement building is minimal, access to spaces that center Indigenous Women’s participation is limited, and climate financing is not reaching grassroots groups let alone Indigenous Women. This session highlights cross-regional perspectives from leaders who are calling for equitable funding to Indigenous women-led climate solutions and intersectional movement building. 
Organizers: Association des Femmes Peuls Autochtones du Chad (AFPAT), Cultural Survival, International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP), Foro Internacional de Mujeres Indígenas (FIMI)
Watch here. (start at 1:49:09)

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