While Indigenous Peoples are gaining greater recognition and participation in environmental processes, their influence over decision-making, implementation and financing continues to be ‘fragmented’, according to a new report by Nia Tero.
Its report, Beyond Fragmentation: Advancing Coherence, Equity, and Indigenous Leadership Across the Rio Conventions, examined the three Rio Conventions that address biodiversity loss, climate change and land degradation – the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
‘Imbalanced relationship’
“For Indigenous Peoples, climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation are deeply connected and result from an imbalanced relationship between people and the earth,” commented Minnie Degawan (Kankanaey-Igorot, Philippines), Indigenous policy expert and author of the report.
“However, the three Rio Conventions address these issues separately, making it harder for Indigenous representatives to participate in meaningful ways.”
The report also drew on two years of dialogue with Indigenous leaders and representatives, as well as observations of international negotiations and institutional analysis. It offers recommendations for parties to strengthen coordination and ensure that Indigenous Peoples can play a role in shaping global environmental governance.
Key findings
The three main takeaways from the report include:
- Fragmented systems, interconnected realities. Biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation are closely connected, yet addressed through separate global systems. This fragmentation has hindered Indigenous Peoples’ influence and limited the effectiveness of the Conventions themselves.
- Recognition has not yet translated into meaningful influence. Indigenous Peoples have secured important gains in visibility and participation across the Rio Conventions, yet significant barriers remain to influencing negotiations, implementation, financing, and decision-making outcomes.
- Global benefits. Greater alignment across the Rio Conventions can reduce redundancies, improve participation mechanisms, and support more effective use of resources.
“As proven guardians of many of the world’s remaining large, intact ecosystems, Indigenous Peoples’ leadership is essential to addressing the combined environmental crises humanity is facing,” added Margarita Mora, chief programs officer, Nia Tero “The Rio Conventions must move beyond recognition and participation to ensure Indigenous Peoples can meaningfully shape decisions, implementation, and financing.”
The report was launched at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD, which is taking place from 17 to 28 August in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Check it out here.
