THANK YOU FOR THE RAIN

Thur Nov 16,2017 18:30 - 19:45  video screening

“Five years ago, the Kenyan farmer Kisilu Musya started to use his camera to document his family, his village and the impact that climate change is having on both. They face floods, droughts, storms and when Kisilu’s house is destroyed by a storm, Kisilu starts a communal farmers’ movement and calls for action against the extreme consequences of the weather. Despite all the resistance Kisilu meets he makes it far in his struggle – all the way to both Oslo and the COP21 in Paris. The film is a story of hope from the frontline of climate change”

— http://thankyoufortherain.com/

The Proposed Green Climate Fund Indigenous Peoples Policy by Tebtebba & IPGPCC

 We would like to Invite you to the side event of Tebtebba and the Indigenous Peoples’ Global Partnership on Climate Change, Forests and Sustainable Development on "cy:

IPs Day Agenda COP23 Bonn, Germany

Day Agenda

Indigenous Peoples Day - COP23 Bonn, Germany

Welcome all to the IPs day at room 12, Bonn Zone

IPs day Banner

Traditional Knowledge and Climate Change

September 11-12 2017, Indigenous Peoples from all regions met with States, UN bodies (UNFCCC and UNESCO) in Ottawa Canada to continue discussing the implementation of operative paragraph 135 of the United Nations Paris Agreement.  OP 135 recognizes the need to strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ “knowledge, practices, innovations and efforts” and also calls for the development of a new Traditional Knowledge Exchange Platform to mitigate Climate Change.

In this and other dialogues, IITC has continued to call upon States to change the policies and practices that undermine Indigenous Peoples ability to practice and protect their traditional knowledge in their homelands. These include industrial agriculture using GMO’s and pesticides, habitat destruction, restrictions on access to traditional lands and water, Treaty violations and continued fossil fuel development, as well as failure to implement Indigenous Peoples’ rights to Free Prior and Informed Consent and Cultural Heritage, among others.

IITC also continued to underscore the need to include Indigenous Traditional Knowledge holders, elders and practitioners in the development and implementation of the new Exchange Platform.  For example the participants in the 3rd International Indigenous Peoples Corn Conference, March 7 – 9, 2017, Tecpan, Guatemala, affirmed “that the new Platform for Traditional Knowledge Exchange under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is developed with the full and equal participation of Indigenous Peoples from all regions and especially our knowledge holders and traditional food producers and in a manner that fully respects our rights, traditional indigenous sciences and the richness of our ancestral knowledge” (from The Declaration of Tecpán).

The development of the Traditional Knowledge Exchange Platform will be a focus for IITC’s and other Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the 23rd Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which will take place in Bonn Germany from November 6-17, 2017.

Source: https://www.iitc.org/traditional-knowledge-climate-change/

COP22 comes to a close

 Prayer circle in solidarity with the Standing Rock Tribe in front of the UNFCCC Conference site on November 15th, 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco. Photo credit: Kayla Faith

  By India Logan-Riley, Aotearoa, Pacific Indigenous Peoples Delegation

The first Conference of the Parties since the creation and entering into force of the Paris Agreement has come to a close. Although there are many aspects of the negotiations that concern the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, this particular CoP has seen large step forward for our engagement with the UNFCCC process.

Systemi n olonia arrier ull, ffectiv n eaningfu articipatio it h NFCCC

structur n ecisio akin rocesse ontinue halleng ha ndigenous Peoples meet. ecisio , ar 3 a mportan ste orwar ncludin ndigenou eople h NFCC tructur n ecisio akin rocesses. Th IPFCC wer nthusiasti bou h reation, tructur n mplementatio hi latform.

As of the closing plenary, the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples platform was made official. The CoP President announced the following decision regarding the platform:

•        To adopt an incremental approach to developing the local communities and indigenous peoples platform, referred to in decision 1/CP.21 paragraph 135, with a view to ensuring its effective operationalization;

•        To request the Chair of the SBSTA to initiate the process to develop the local communities and indigenous peoples platform, which will include convening an open multi-stakeholder dialogue at SBSTA 46 on the operationalization of the platform to be co-moderated by the Chair of the SBSTA and a representative of indigenous peoples organizations;

•        To invite Parties and other stakeholders to submit, by 31 March 2017, their views on the purpose, content and structure of the platform in order to inform the multi-stakeholder dialogue;

•        To request the secretariat to prepare a report on the multi-stakeholder dialogue, which should also draw on the submissions;

•        To also request the SBSTA to consider the report at SBSTA 47 under a new agenda item "local communities and indigenous peoples platform" and conclude its consideration at SBSTA 47 by forwarding recommendations  for  operationalization of the platform  to COP23.

Th latfor as been stablishe ecognitio h ee trengthe h nvolvemen f knowledge, echnologies, ractice n ffort ndigenou eople l limat hange action, n o h xchang xperience n harin es ractice itigatio nd adaptatio olisti n ntegrate anner.

This process over the last two weeks has not been smooth. There were times when we had to remind those involved that Indigenous Peoples in a way that is consistent with UNDRIP and other international legal expectations. However, we applaud the commitment to actioning this platform and look forward to the full, effective and meaningful partnership with the UNFCCC moving forward.

Last session of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus at COP 22 held in the city of Marrakech, Morocco

Last session of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus at COP 22 held in Marrakech, Morocco, November 18, 2016

A message from Adelfo Regino, Latin American Caucus: During the last session of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus at COP 22, held in Marrakech, Morocco, we had a dialogue with government representatives from Ecuador, Guatemala and Australia.

In this meeting we have be made aware of the proposal being made by the President of COP 22 regarding the establishment of a “Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform” in this Climate Change process. I have attached the text, which is only available in English. We are looking for a way to translate into Spanish.

We will be attentive to the evolution of the negotiations in this last day of session. Let's hope there's good news for the Indigenous Peoples of the world.

Indigenous Womens’ Day at COP22

By Genevieve Northey

On Wednesday, 16th November, the Women and Gender Caucus held the second Indigenous Womens’ Day at COP22. All seven regions of the world was represented in the room, with a panel discussion taking place with women from the Arctic, Pacific, Latin America Africa and Asia speaking on their own experiences from the home region.

Although from different and diverse regions of the world, the themes had the common thread of protecting their environment and culture to preserve their way life. The speakers also reiterated the importance of Indigenous women having a space in which to participate in a meaningful way with their governments and in high-level discussions, like those taking place at COP22, on the issue of climate change.

Indigenous women are proud to be part of the solution for Climate Change, through their traditional knowledge and infinity with the environment, which has been passed down through the generations.

The group called on more capacity building funds for indigenous women, so they may participate fully in the high-level meetings and negotiations with the required technical skills. They also called on the need to involve more young indigenous women to come forward and join the constituency to be present to carry the torch forward into the future.

Join the biggest family photo in UNFCCC history for unity and action!

Spread the word!!!! Share this message with everybody!!

Join the biggest family photo in UNFCCC history for unity and action!

We hope you will join us around the message that #WeWillMoveAhead with climate action and climate justice here and beyond COP22. 

 What: Gathering for what will be the biggest ever UNFCCC family photo, around unbranded giant banners that read "We Will Move Ahead"

When: Friday at 12.45 pm

 Where: In front of conference center entrance - outside, next to the flags

(don't worry, security promised us they will have extra staff to ensure we can out and back into the venue very fast).

 Why: To send an image to the world that we, the global community, are determined to move on and win the fight against climate change. (And we won't let anyone sabotage the transition to a climate resilient future).

 Message: #WeWillMoveAhead

 Organisers: The photo opportunity is organised by Greenpeace but it will be an unbranded activity open for all COP22 delegates.

 Come over and call on everyone - Let's close COP22 with a message of hope, unity and action to the world! 

Message from: Emily Hickson <ehickson@climatenetwork.org>

Oxford University calling on UNFCCC to halt the marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples

Oxford University Researchers have released a new report calling on UNFCCC to halt the marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples at its annual COP negotiations.

The report identifies three tiers of marginalisation for Indigenous Peoples at the international climate negotiations. 

Full report is available here: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2870412 
Policy brief here: bit.ly/2fI1jR9

In a new working paper released today, researchers at the University of Oxford are calling on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to address the marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples. They warn that if the leading international climate body continues to marginalise Indigenous knowledge and adaptations, attempts to solve the climate crisis will be in vain.

Oxford University researchers have identified three tiers of marginalisation that exist at UNFCCC COP events, including COP22 taking place in Marrakesh this week:
·      Politically, Indigenous Peoples are not allowed to self-represent; they are simply ‘observers’ to the negotiations. The nation states speaking on their behalf are responsible for their historical and current political marginalisation.
·      Geographically, the space offered to Indigenous Peoples is outside the main negotiating space of the conference.
·      Economically, Indigenous Peoples attendance is restricted by lack of finances. Developed nations and wealthy lobbyists thus dominate the space; Indigenous Peoples often cannot afford translators.

The new paper argues that solving the climate crisis will be unfeasible without the direct input of Indigenous Peoples and their knowledge. Yet, as the paper points out, the marginalisation faced at annual UNFCCC COP events inhibits this. Further, it goes against International human rights, including the right to self-determination.

Lead author Claudia Comberti says: “Rather than acknowledging the key role Indigenous Peoples should play in creating climate solutions, they are segregated at the climate negotiations and not allowed to self-represent. The UNFCCC needs to change this if it is to create fair and adequate solutions to climate change.”

The paper notes that Indigenous Peoples represent the majority of the world’s cultural diversity. Collectively they hold a wealth of environmental knowledge and adaptation strategies that are crucial to addressing climate change. Indigenous Peoples are also experiencing climate change first, and most strongly than other populations.

The paper proposes four actions to radically improve the situation:
1)   Grant Indigenous Peoples full member status at the UNFCCC, so they can self-represent.
2)   Appoint Indigenous Peoples as experts in negotiations around Adaptation and Loss & Damage
3)   Direct and restructure financial streams to increasing autonomy and voice of Indigenous Peoples – including the Green Climate Fund, and finance for translators and travel
4)   Commit to respecting Indigenous Rights and International human rights – an international agreement that the current situation undermines.

The full paper, released today, is based on several months of research, including interviews and observations at previous UNFCCC COP events.

For full article see: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2870412
Policy brief: http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/publications/policy-brief-pdf/20161116_IP-marginalisation_CComberti.pdf

Agenda for the last day of the COP22 meeting in Marrakesh: Friday, November 18, 2016.

Selection of events

08.00 – 10.00 Arabian Room (Blue zone) 
Indigenous Peoples' Global Caucus Meeting

10.30 – 11.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Briefing for the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus

11.15 – 12.15 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Affordable Green Energy for Poor Communities 
Organizers: Varhad Capital Pvt Ltd (Green Banking Initiative)/Gravity Power

12.30 – 14.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Lessons from the Canadian Arctic on Adapting to Climate Change 
Organizers: McGill University/Inuit Circumpolar Council, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, University of Sunshine Coast

14.15 – 15.15 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Organic Value Chains with Moroccan Communities 
Organizers: High Atlas Foundation

15.30 – 18.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Ancestral techniques of the oases for the management of natural resources 
Organizers: Association Oasis Ferkla pour Environnement et Patrimoine/RADDO,RARBOSM

Agenda prepared by DOCIP

Indigenous Peoples Caucus Reiterates Position on Proposed Platform

The Indigenous Peoples Caucus reiterated their consensus position to the President of COP22, Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar at the meeting of the Indigenous Caucus this morning. Hamza Tber, Chief of Staff, Multilateral Negotiations, Kingdom of Morocco accompanied the COP President at the Caucus. 

“IIPFCC proposed elements for an outcome of the informal consultation on the indigenous peoples platform:

- An incremental approach led by the SBTA chair and a representative of Indigenous Peoples appointed by the Indigenous Peoples themselves who will serve as co-facilitators.

- Invite submissions by parties, Indigenous Peoples and observers by 31 March 2017 on the purpose, content and structure of the indigenous peoples´ platform to inform the dialogue and the process.

- Convene 3 consultations, to be conducted by the co-facilitators during May sessions on the operationalization of the platform, including purpose, content and structure.

- Request the co-facilitators to present the outcomes of the consultations for the consideration and adoption at the COP23.

- Request the secretariat, under the guidance of the co-facilitators, to operationalize the platform taking into account the submissions and the outcomes of this dialogue.

We remain available if you require any further information. We are committed to several bilaterals with a number of Parties throughout the day to reiterate our position.”

— Ghazali Ohorella to Hamza Tber, Chief of Staff Multilateral Negotiations, Kingdom of Morocco

UNESCO Policy on engaging with Indigenous Peoples

Docip has the pleasure to forward you the following message from the UNESCO focal point unit for indigenous issues:

Dear partners, colleagues and friends,

Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, decided in May 2010 to develop a UNESCO Policy on engaging with Indigenous Peoples.

To follow up on this decision, an intersectoral Task Team carried out face-to-face meetings, workshops and interviews with indigenous peoples who have partnered with the Organization in different areas of its mandate. These inputs, reflections and observations have contributed towards the current draft UNESCO policy for engaging with indigenous peoples. The draft policy document contains key principles for engaging with indigenous peoples, and guidelines for how these principles would be applied in UNESCO’s programme areas.

You are invited to review the draft policy and to inform us of your views. The review period runs until 30 November 2016. Following this review, your inputs, comments and criticisms will be taken into account by the Task Team when revising the document, with the aim to submit a final draft for consideration by UNESCO's Executive Board at its 201st session.

Please contact t.narayan@unesco.org if you’re interested in receiving the draft policy for review.

For more information, please consult our website. If you have any questions on the process, please send them to t.narayan@unesco.org

With sincere thanks in advance for your review and responses, 
Ms. Trupthi Narayan

On behalf of the UNESCO focal point unit for indigenous issues.

t.narayan@unesco.org 
+33 1 45 68 01 85

Indigenous Peoples' Pavilion at COP 22 Opens

The “Indigenous Peoples’ & Communities’ Pavilion: Traditional Knowledge for Climate Action” (Pavilion) at the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) officially opened on 8 November 2016. The Pavilion will remain open to the public from 8-18 November 2016 and is located within the 'Civil Society Space’ or "Green Zone", which is adjacent to the COP 22 Blue Zone negotiation space. This Pavilion is accessible through accreditation. 

The purpose of the Pavilion is to facilitate the effective representation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities by providing a dedicated gathering space to meet to coordinate on messaging and advocacy strategies; to convene events like presentations, policy dialogues, panel discussions, publication launches, etc. to advance discourse on indigenous peoples’ and communities’ solutions to climate change; and to be a center for learning and knowledge exchange on indigenous peoples’ and community issues in the climate context. The Pavilion will be a highly-visible platform for communicating and amplifying messages of Indigenous Peoples and local communities during the COP 22 negotiations.

Visit the Pavilion website here. 

African Indigenous Peoples Caucus meets at the Pavilion (Photo: Johnson Cerda) 

Indigenous Peoples Caucus Statement at COP22 APA Session

Jannie Staffansson reads the Indigenous Peoples Caucus statement at the APA session of COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco, November 7, 2016   

On Monday, Jannie Staffansson (Sami) delivered the  Indigenous Peoples Caucus Statement at the #UNFCCC Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) opening Plenary. The statement raised recommendations for the future implementation of the Paris Agreement, as well as called upon the countries who signed onto the Geneva Pledge on Human Rights and Climate Change to establish a Working Group or a program on Human Rights and Climate Change within the UNFCCC process. The statement made at the APA session was one of four presented by the Indigenous Peoples Caucus on Monday at COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco.  #IIPFCC  #Saamicouncil #IndigenousCOP22

Statement of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) to the Ad Hoc Working Group for the Paris Agreement (APA), November 7, 2016, Marrakech, Morocco

English |  Español  |  Français  | Русский

COP22 Conference Venue Information

The COP22 venue is at Bab Ighli is located approximately 10 minutes away from the Marrakech city centre and 10 minutes from Marrakech Airport. It consists of the main conference area, also known as the “Blue Zone”, and space for civil society and other participants also known as the “Green Zone”.

Registration

Registration is open from 5 November until Friday, 18 November 2016, from 8.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.  The acknowledgement letter of the participant’s confirmation, obtained through confirmation in the online registration system, and a valid passport or a nationally approved photo identification card should be presented to the registration staff in order to ensure the issuance of your badge.)

Daily Caucus:

IPs Caucus daily meeting will take place from 9.00 AM-10.00 AM at room Arabian at Blue zone

Banking

Opening days and hours of the office of Bank Al-Maghrib at the Bab Ighli conference site: From Monday, 7 November, to Friday, 18 November 2016, from 9.00 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please note that the Bank office will be closed on Saturday, 12 November, and Sunday, 13 November 2016. The Bank office is located in the Services area

DOCIP Technical secretariat at COP22

We have the pleasure to announce Docip’s presence at the COP22 meeting in Marrakesh, November 7 - 18, 2016.

You can find our technical secretariat in the Indigenous Peoples' and Communities' Pavilion, in the Green Zone. It will be open from 10:00am to 7:00pm.

Thanks to Docip's vast network of multilingual volunteers we offer the following free services to all Indigenous delegates attending the meeting:

▪ Translation to and from English, French, Spanish and Russian
▪ Interpretation on demand to and from English, French, Spanish and Russian for informal meetings and bilateral sessions, as well as regional caucus meetings
▪ Guidance for new participants
▪ Photocopies and other administrative tasks

In order to support the Indigenous delegates’ work, Docip offers them an office space equipped with:

▪ An office to use as workspace
▪ Computers and printers
▪ Internet connection
▪ Office supplies

For all questions please contact Karen Pfefferli: karen@docip.org - phone/whatsapp:+41 78 885 52 89 or Miguel Betti: sectec-intern@docip.org 

COP 22 Bus Shuttle

Shuttle Service to COP22 site (Bab Ighli)

Shuttle service in the city of Marrakech will be provided free of charge for all participants (on presentation of badge) from November 5 to 18 from 6am to midnight, according to the following schedule:

– Peak hours (7am-10am and 6pm-8pm): shuttle every 15 minutes

– Off-peak hours (6am-7am; 10am-6pm and 8pm-midnight): shuttle every hou

Indigenous Peoples Dialogue with UNFCCC States Parties

The Indigenous Peoples' dialogue with Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place on 5 Nov at Hotel Meridien in Marrakech from 2-5 pm. 

Indigenous Peoples Dialogue with UNFCCC States Parties

COP22 President Mr. Salaheddine Mezouar and Morocco Minister of Environment, Ms. Hakima El Haite addressed the representatives of Indigenous Peoples from seven geo-political regions attending the dialogue. On behalf of International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), Ms. Jannie Staffansson put forward the key demands of indigenous peoples for COP22.

View fullsize

COP22 President Mr. Salaheddine Mezouar 

Minister of Environment, Ms. Hakima El Haite

The dialogue between Indigenous Peoples and States was interactive, constructive and set a good path for future dialogues with parties to the UNFCCC. Government representatives from France, Norway, Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand were present in the dialogue. 

Ms. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, the co-chair of Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus moderated the session. The IIPFCC will soon be distributing the Indigenous Peoples' political statement in abridged and longer versions in the coming days.

IPs caucus meeting and Pavilion at COP22

Greetings Sisters and Brothers,

We hope and believe that you are zipping up your bags and beginning your travels to Marrakesh, Morocco

We would like to update you all on the following:

• The Global IPs caucus will takes place on 6 November at the Meridien Hotel, Avenue Mohammed VI from 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM. 
• The official opening of indigenous peoples and local communities pavilion will be on 8 November from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Green Zone.
• IPs Caucus daily meeting will take place from 9.00 AM-10.00 AM at room Arabian at Blue zone

We look forward to impacting the Climate Change processes and implementation of the Paris Agreement