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However, at COP28 I had the privilege of meeting Indigenous Peoples advocating for climate action from various corners of the world -- Africa, Australia, South America, Asia, and Europe. A particularly enlightening moment for me was the conversation I had with Jean Mary Tjiohimba, a San indigenous from South Africa, who delivered a moving closing speech at the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Multi-stakeholder High-Level Dialogue at COP28. During our discussion, she shared insights about the presence of San and Khoisan indigenous peoples in Zimbabwe, a revelation that went beyond the historical narratives I was taught in high school and marked my first encounter with a San individual.
Phase out fossil fuels
Indigenous Peoples who participated at COP28 passionately advocated for a fast phase-out of fossil fuels, whether through impactful demonstrations or expressive art forms. This platform served as another crucial opportunity for Indigenous Peoples to highlight the disproportionate toll of climate change on their communities and ecosystems. Simultaneously, they emphasized the adverse effects stemming from the extraction and utilization of fossil fuels. One of the demonstrations that moved with me depicted a poignant scene -- a nurse tending to a patient, representing the Earth, within the confines of an emergency room. The symbolism was striking, as the nurse conveyed a powerful message: the Earth's recovery hinges on our collective commitment to cease the burning of fossil fuels worldwide.
A recent study conducted within the United States has brought to light alarming public health hazards associated with air and water pollution throughout the fossil fuel life cycle, with a starkly disproportionate impact on Black, Brown, Indigenous, and economically disadvantaged communities. Analyzing 2018 Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators data revealed that 56 percent of the toxic burden from refineries is borne by minorities, who constitute 39 percent of the population, while 19 percent is carried by poor individuals, representing 14 percent of the population. Additionally, pollution attributed to natural gas infrastructure poses an elevated cancer risk impacting one million Black/African-Americans.
The authors of that study further say the concept of racial capitalism both elucidates why Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poor communities are disproportionately affected by fossil fuel health hazards and also underscores why more than 30 years of international climate negotiations have thus far failed to curtail fossil fuel production. Notably, it's unprecedented that, for the first time in the history of 28 climate change negotiations, the phrase "phasing away from fossil fuels" appeared in a document agreed upon by all 197 parties at COP28.
Indigenous and Traditional Technologies, Sciences, and Innovations Multi-stakeholder dialogue at COP 28
The Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) within the 2022-2024 work plan is tasked with organizing discussions involving various stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Parties, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).*** The primary goal is to enhance the involvement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the development and implementation of global climate change policies.*** The incorporation of indigenous knowledge, with fair and ethical treatment of these groups, aligns with the overarching objective of the Paris Agreement -- which emphasizes the promotion of climate action rooted in the best available science and, when suitable, traditional indigenous knowledge.
Interplay between scientific knowledge and indigenous knowledge
In this dialogue, a thought-provoking point was raised: Researchers' work typically spans 3-4 years, while indigenous methods have proven effective for thousands of years. The question arises: which do we trust today, the former or the latter? With a background in electrical engineering, I might assume my colleagues prioritize the former. However, delving into social sciences methods as part of my Masters degree study has led me to a nuanced perspective. I refrain from asserting trust in one over the other, recognizing the unique merits and contexts that each brings to the table. Here are my reasons.
Repeatedly, science and engineering solutions have unveiled unintended and sometimes severe consequences, such as climate change. Acknowledging that both science/engineering and indigenous knowledge have their shortcomings, I push for a collaborative approach that leverages the strengths of each for the benefit of our planet and its inhabitants. Reflecting on the unintended consequences of technologies like AI and solar, I recognize the need to critically assess potential harms, even amid the excitement about their positive aspects.
A Sustainable Development class in fall 2023 challenged my Western views on sustainability, emphasizing the valuable contributions of indigenous knowledge to scientific endeavors. From the stories of African pastoralists to instances like the study on fire-spreading birds in Australia, it is evident that Western scientists often dismiss traditional knowledge unless it aligns with their claims. The study on firehawks, while novel to Western science, had long been known to indigenous peoples in northern Australia, revealing a double standard in accepting traditional knowledge within Western science. This discrepancy calls for a re-evaluation of the relationship between these two knowledge systems.
Integrating indigenous knowledge into climate initiatives
Sherilee Harper, vice-chair of Working Group I at the IPCC, candidly recognized that many United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) working groups have ample room for improvement in incorporating indigenous knowledge. Nevertheless, the engagement of various stakeholders within the UNFCCC, actively listening to the concerns of indigenous peoples, left a positive impression on me. In addition, Harper highlighted a study by Pasang Dolma Sherpa, the Indigenous Peoples' Representative to the U.N., who has consistently advocated for indigenous voices in the UNFCCC. Historically, global discussions on climate change have overlooked these voices.
Of the 197 parties at COP28, fewer than 100 had negotiators aligned with the Indigenous Peoples' agenda. My perception is that the UNFCCC is taking steps to listen to and encourage the active participation of indigenous voices, notably through the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP). However, it is crucial to move beyond mere acknowledgment and ensure the implementation of sound policies.
I recommend future initiatives should focus on guaranteeing that indigenous peoples are not adversely impacted by UNFCCC policies established during annual COP conferences. The emphasis should shift towards empowering indigenous communities with the necessary resources for comprehensive climate change action, encompassing both adaptation and mitigation, without prioritizing one over the other. A critical component of this approach involves substantial funding for the LCIPP platform, ensuring that those most affected, such as indigenous peoples, play a role in shaping policies that directly impact their livelihoods. Moreover, efforts should be made to include individuals from indigenous communities in party negotiating teams -- especially from Africa.
Notes:
* Nyasha Milanzi of Zimbabwe, author of this article, is pursuing a masters degree in sustainable communities at Michigan Tech University. In her research she merges Geoscience and Social Science methods in studying Socio-Ecological and Socio-Technological Systems in the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa. Click here to read about her reasons for attending COP28. Read about her take on the UAE Consensus here.
** In her current role as a research assistant, Nyasha Milanzi is contributing to a project funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at Michigan Tech, in collaboration with the Center for Energy and Environment in Minneapolis. The primary focus of the project is on studying the air quality of an indigenous community in Michigan, specifically evaluating the impacts of a local energy generation facility that predominantly employs a mix of polluting fuels as she mentions above. The researchers investigate the air quality impacts from the facility as well as the drivers of energy transitions, encompassing fuelwood use, efficiency improvements, and beneficial electrification, with a dedicated effort to assess the broader impacts of transitioning to renewables.
*** See: LCIPP Third Annual Gathering of Knowledge Holders -- Dialogue with Parties and other stakeholders | Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform.
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