International Indigenous People’s Forum on Climate Change

CWIS has teamed up with the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) draft and negotiate the Indigenous People’s Forum Treaty Negotiating Text to be incorporated in the international Climate Change Treaty under consideration within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Conference of the Parties 15 (the next round of climate change negotiations) in December 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
This negotiating text addresses some of the indigenous peoples’ concerns about omissions or commissions in the draft treaty text. One of the major issues in the treaty is the REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) scheme and carbon markets. Currently, this policy does not benefit forest dwelling peoples and interferes with traditional lifestyles and subsistence practices. IIPFCC is pushing for the Free Prior and Informed Consent of affected peoples before implementing such programs. The treaty text also calls for the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples-those most affected by the adverse effects of climate change-into the discussion.