Adaptive Pathways for the Future: Indigenous Peoples, Traditional Knowledge and Climate Change

Kirsty Galloway McLeanUnited Nations University

Traditional Knowledge Initiative

2010 International Climate Change Adaptation Conference, 1 July 2010

Indigenous peoples:

Population 5%Forest lands 11%Land surface 22%Biodiversity 80%

Carbon footprint <.1%live in marginal environments – mountains, coastal areas, polar cap, forests

450 projects and case studies

Indigenous observations of

change

Role of traditional knowledge

Adaptation and mitigation strategies

•Agriculture and food security•Biodiversity and natural ecosystems•Animal husbandry •Housing and infrastructure•Forests•Transport•Energy consumption and production•Human rights

Sectors:

The majority of successful adaptive strategies rely in some way on

traditional ecological knowledge

Intergenerational transmission of knowledge over thousands of years

Traditional knowledge:

Knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous Peoples

History of effective response to changing climate

Crop diversification

Shifting resource bases

Changes in hunting and gathering periods

Blending traditional knowledge and modern technologies

e.g. Arctic Climate Impact

Assessment; Cybertracker

Fire management

e.g. WALFA, Payment for Ecosystem

Services

traditional wisdom +

scientific method

= new partnerships +

innovative ways of thinking

What do we need to change?

We urgently need to

generate, interpret and use

information…

…yet traditional knowledge is rapidly disappearing

Most of the world’s 6000 language

groups are indigenous

90%of these languages

will disappeardisappear by 2020

Global modeling outputs / structure

Improve

understanding impact / response

to change at local level

Build effective communication communication

to incorporate community level

goals and integrate human human and

ecosystem ecosystem concerns

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Involve Indigenous Peoples in policy and planning

Published late July 2010

Requests:tki@ias.unu.edu

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