Barcelona, Spain – We, Indigenous Peoples, express our profound concern over the lack of political will and commitment of state Parties especially those from the Annex 1 block spearheaded by the US to conclude the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen with a legally binding agreements on ambitious real emission reduction targets.

Considering our spiritual and traditional attachment to land and territories for our livelihoods and daily existence, and the fact that we are the most directly impacted by the climate change, any outcomes on these negotiations will both short and long term direct consequences to our very existence and survival on earth.

We deplore all efforts to weaken the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and especially the Kyoto Protocol thereby shifting responsibilities and burden to the developing countries who have never contributed to the climate mess in which we are today.

It is then critically important, and a matter of life and death for indigenous peoples that any agreement on climate change must ensure the legal recognition of our human rights and the protection of our traditional knowledge to achieve a just and equitable outcome of the climate change negotiations.

We therefore call on all state parties and the global community to fulfill and respect their current commitments and outcomes from Copenhagen that must include the following:
1. A legally binding outcome in the form of an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol for the further commitment period 2013-2020.
2. A binding aggregate emissions reduction target for developed countries (Annex 1) of 49% below 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 95% by 2050.
3. Recognition that international human rights standards serve as a guide to tackle climate change, underscoring the fundamental, moral and legal obligations to protect and promote the full enjoyment of our human rights including our rights to lands, territories and resources, right to subsistence, food sovereignty, right of traditional knowledge and free, prior and informed consent, among others, as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
4. The full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in all climate change related processes at the global, national and local levels.
5. Ensure the direct financing to and by indigenous peoples and local communities for adaptation and mitigation measures.
6. Establishment of an Expert Group on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change under the Conference of Parties (CoP) of the UNFCCC, and under the Meeting of Parties (MoP) of the Kyoto Protocol, with indigenous expert members and the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples.

The survival of our peoples, the human family and Mother Earth is at stake. State Parties must stop obstructing real solutions. We have only one Mother Earth, and all Parties must fulfill their responsibilities and obligations. END

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Position Concerning the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties Under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP)
Adopted in Barcelona, 02-06 November 2009

International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC)

6 November 2009

Barcelona, Spain

International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) Position Concerning the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties Under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP)

Adopted in Barcelona, 02-06 November 2009

The IIPFCC acknowledges that the Kyoto Protocol (KP) is the only legally binding international instrument that sets quantified commitment targets and binding time tables for each Annex I Parties to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Indigenous peoples do not have time to wait for another binding agreement to be developed, which could take years. The Kyoto Protocol has many flaws, including violations of human rights within the implementation of its project mechanisms such as Clean Development Mechanisms, but the prospect of losing the only international treaty with no alternatives in place is problematic.

The IIPFCC thereby calls for the following:

1) Copenhagen must deliver a legally binding outcome in the form of an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol for the further commitment period 2013-2020, for Annex I Parties.

2) IIPFCC supports a binding aggregate emissions reduction target for developed countries (Annex 1) of at least 45% with a preferred level of 49% below 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 95% by 2050.

3) It supports using a fund-based approach, focusing on projects on sustainable development, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable groups including women, Indigenous peoples and local communities.

4) The IIPFCC opposes any attempt to merge AWG-LCA and AWG-KP. The AWG-KP must continue its process to negotiate for further commitment period for Annex I Parties.

5) The IIPFCC strongly supports that language be adopted within Agenda item 3 Consideration of further commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol. Consideration of information on potential environmental, economic and social consequences, including spillover effects, of tools, policies, measures and methodologies available to Annex I Parties that recognizes human rights including and rights of Indigenous peoples and rights to sustainable development.

6) During the amendment process of the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, measures for recognizing the rights of Indigenous peoples must be secured in accordance with applicable universal human rights instruments and agreements, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This includes respect for the knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples; their rights to lands, territories and resources, and their full and effective participation, with their free, prior and informed consent.

7) The IIPFCC strongly supports the establishment of an experts group of the Kyoto Protocol and Indigenous peoples under the auspices of Meeting of the Parties. The Parties, together with representatives of Indigenous peoples, will agree on the functions and terms of reference of this body.