Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change
Inuit Circumpolar Council
20 April – 24 April 2009 (Anchorage, Alaska)
Organized by the Inuit Circumpolar Council with the assistance of the UNU-IAS Traditional Knowledge Initiative, the Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change “Leading the Way” gathered some 400 participants, including indigenous peoples from 80 nations. The purpose of the summit was to enable Indigenous peoples from all regions of the globe to exchange their knowledge and experience in adapting to the impacts of climate change. With regard to a declaration to be presented to the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in December 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark, the most difficult debates were held with regard to a call for a moratorium on new oil and gas drilling and a phase-out of fossil fuels.
Media reports and resources on the summit:
UNU-IAS TKI Press Briefing and Video Material
Indigenous Peoples At World Summit to Share Climate Change Observations, Coping Techniques
Science Daily, 20 April 2009
Indigenous Peoples Demand Greater Role in Climate Debate
IPS, 20 April 2009
Indigenous groups hold Alaska climate change talks
Agence France-Presse, 20 April 2009
Earth’s tribes unite against climate threats
NewScientist, 21 April 2009
Indigenous people serve as guardians of forest carbon, must be involved in climate solutions
Mongabay.com, 22 April 2009
Native Peoples Sound Dire Warning
IPS, 22 April 2009
Indigenous youths offer their take on climate change
Associated Press, 22 April 2009
Launch of the Indigenous Peoples’ Guide: “False Solutions to Climate Change”
HuntingtonNews.net, 22 April 2009
Statement by the UN General Assembly President Miguel D’Escoto
UN Statement, 23 April 2009
Include indigenous rights in global climate change policies, summit told
CBC Canada, 23 April 2009
Indigenous people encouraged to stand together
Associated Press, 24 April 2009
Climate change concerns unites the World’s indigenous peoples at Global Summit in Anchorage, Alaska
IPACC, 24 April 2009
Indigenous people share climate adaptation strategies
SciDev.Net, 24 April 2009
Climate change conference ends on disputed resolution
KTUU, 24 April 2009
Drilling drives a wedge at climate change summit
Associated Press, 25 April 2009
No consensus on climate change document at indigenous summit
CBC Canada, 27 April 2009
