More than 150 million indigenous people threatened by climate change - no time for scientists’ dispute

More than 150 million indigenous people in the Arctic and Subarctic, in the Pacific, in East Africa, India , Indonesia and in several South American states are suffering already from the results of the climate change. For this reason many of their representatives have little time for the dispute among scientists as to whether the earth is really becoming warmer and to what extent human beings are responsible for this, reported the Society for Threatened Peoples STP (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker GfbV) on Monday at the beginning of the Climate Summit in Copenhagen. "Long before scientists warned of a climate change indigenous people noticed dramatic changes of the climate in their own surroundings”, said the STP Asia consultant, Ulrich Delius, However for years the warnings of indigenous peoples have not been taken seriously although they have for generations been observing intensively the weather and its influence on nature.

But beyond the immediately observable consequences the climate change has also indirect negative effects for indigenous people in many parts of the world. It is becoming more difficult for them to claim their rights. Indigenous peoples in the Arctic and Subarctic are increasingly being refused control over the land which was traditionally theirs because the mining of raw materials is rapidly becoming more profitable. Mining and energy companies and governments are forcing the indigenous peoples all over the world to sell their land or to give long-term leases and are thus stirring up conflict within the indigenous communities. Some are quite prepared to sell the land, while others insist on maintaining their ways of life, which have been handed down from generation to generation. "Instead of the traditional communal farming there are now among most of the indigenous peoples quarrels about what is to be done”, said Delius. "The climate change is not only indirectly killing just the community spirit of the indigenous peoples, but destroying the very foundations of their culture and identity.”

Conflict is also being stirred up by the REDD Programme of the United Nations, which has the task of slowing down the climate change. REDD is supposed to be reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases caused by deforestation and forest degradation. Those who do not use the forest for commercial purposes are according to REDD to receive compensation. Beyond this the forests are to be included in packets for emission trading.

But there is disagreement about which areas should be regarded as forest at all and about where the realising of nature in financial terms would take us.

While some of the indigenous peoples reject REDD absolutely, others are concerned about a reform of REDD so that indigenous interests will receive more consideration.

The Society for Threatened Peoples is represented at the Climate Summit with a delegation of 30 indigenous people from all over the world, who have been concerned with questions of the environment for many years.

The STP Asia consultant, Ulrich Delius, can also answer questions at asien@gfbv.de