Guide on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples

Participation and Inclusion: Every person and all peoples are entitledto active, free and meaningful participation in, contribution to, andenjoyment of civil, economic, social, cultural and political development inwhich human rights and fundamental freedoms can be realized.Accountability and Rule of Law: States and other duty-bearers areanswerable for the observance of human rights. In this regard, theyhave to comply with the legal norms and standards enshrined in humanrights instruments. Where they fail to do so, aggrieved rights-holdersare entitled to institute proceedings for appropriate redress before acompetent court or other adjudicator in accordance with the rules andprocedures provided by law.3 Ecosystem Approach• Indigenous peoples’ view of climate change and measures to addressproblems is fully consistent with the Ecosystem Approach which acknowledgesthat decision-making and management of biodiversity are bestcarried out using the institutions and governance mechanisms mostsuited at the ecosystem-level, includinga recognition of the central role ofindigenous peoples.• It recognizes that humans, with theircultural diversity, are an integralcomponent of various ecosystems.Such an approach is “a strategy for theintegrated management of land, waterand living resources that promotesconservation and sustainable use inan equitable way.” 2 It maintains theproductive potential of ecosystems allowingindigenous peoples as stewardsof the environment, using practices insynergy with ecosystem processes and functions.EcosystemApproach- provides for anunderstanding ofecosystemic processeswith a long term viewof the sustainablerelationship betweenpeoples and environment.• The Ecosystem Approach thus provides a sustainable approach in addressingcultural and biological diversity that directly contributes tosolutions on the problems on climate change. It is therefore imperativethat mitigation and adaptation measures on climate change should beinformed by this.144 <strong>Guide</strong> on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples