UN Indigenous Climate Conference

Covid-19 has particularly shown the scale of inequalities between indigenous communities and alternative communities, many of whom may historically have been unexposed to viruses and illnesses however have had to deal with the impacts of covid 19, and of course climate change. Representation of indigenous groups on international platforms, such as diplomatic forums has been questioned, and there have been concerns over protecting the intellectual property of indigenous groups on such platforms, as much of their indigenously preserved knowledge can be incredibly insightful and valuable to wider alternative communities.

Indigenous communities have a wealth of knowledge and historical understanding of ecosystems and sustainability. However, representation on an international platform for indigenous groups is lacking. We propose the implementation of a United Nations Conference that is led by indigenous communities.

In addition to this, it is important to recognise that the sustainable practices of indigenous groups must be respected, credited, and protected through legal frameworks.