Australia’s submission on the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform
Australia welcomes the opportunity to submit its views on the Local Communities and Indigenous
Peoples Platform (Platform). This submission is made in response to Decision 1/CP.21 paragraph 135
that “establishes a platform for the exchange of experiences and sharing of best practices on
mitigation and adaptation in a holistic and integrated manner”.
This submission outlines Australia’s views on the purpose, content and structure of the Platform in
order to inform the multi-stakeholder dialogue at the forty-sixth session of the subsidiary bodies in
May 2017.
Overarching views
As outlined in the Paris Agreement (Decision 1/CP.21), we acknowledge that Parties should, when
taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations
on human rights, the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. Further, the Paris
Agreement (Decision 1/CP.21 paragraph 135) “recognises the need to strengthen knowledge,
technologies and practices and efforts of local communities and indigenous peoples related to
addressing and responding to climate change”.
The Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (the Platform) could contribute to linkages
and coordination between other existing efforts under the United Nations. The Platform should take
into account the broader developments under the United Nations regarding indigenous
representation and participation, including the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples (UNDRIP), the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, the Expert Mechanism on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
The international community has recognised the unique situation of indigenous peoples by adopting
the UNDRIP. If carefully planned, the Platform could support the collective rights enshrined in the
UNDRIP including, the right to:
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Self-determination (indigenous peoples have the right to decide what is best for them and
their communities);
Free, prior and informed consent (indigenous peoples have the right to be consulted and make
decisions on matters that may affect their rights; freely, without pressure, having all the
information, and before anything that happens);
the conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands
or territories and resources; and
maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned
or otherwise occupied and used lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources
and to uphold their responsibilities to future generations in this regard.
Australia’s approach to global participation of indigenous peoples
Australia’s first peoples are one of the oldest living cultures on Earth. The contribution of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Island peoples to modern Australian society is an enormous part of Australia’s
identity. The Australian Government is committed to better engagement with its indigenous peoples
to ensure policies and programmes improve their lives and opportunities.
Globally, Australia continues to be a strong advocate for the full and effective participation of
indigenous peoples around the world in international matters, which affect them.
Indigenous peoples are directly affected by climate change and have a valuable contribution to make
to the implementation of the Paris Agreement. We are supportive and encouraging to have an avenue
under the UNFCCC where indigenous peoples do so.
In 2015, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) launched a five-year
Indigenous Peoples Strategy to align our work on issues affecting indigenous peoples across foreign
policy, aid, trade and corporate objectives. The Indigenous Peoples Strategy provides a framework for
DFAT to work with its partners to advance and promote the wellbeing of indigenous peoples around
the world, in line with Australia’s national interest. Further information on this strategy is available
here: http://dfat.gov.au/news/news/Pages/australian-indigenous-peoples-strategy.aspx.
Purpose and content of the Platform
The purpose of the Platform, outlined in decision 1/CP.21, is to facilitate the exchange of experiences
and sharing of best practices on mitigation and adaptation in a holistic and integrated manner.
Indigenous, local and traditional knowledge systems and practices, including indigenous peoples’
views of community and environment, are important resources for adaptation to climate change. This
unique knowledge is highly valuable and the Platform should be used as a mechanism to help inform
climate-related decision-making at the UNFCCC and share lessons and experiences in the most
effective way.
It is important to consider how sharing this information will link to other processes and build on
existing efforts for the effective engagement of non-Party stakeholders under the UNFCCC, including,
but not limited to, the Marrakech Partnership, the Nairobi Work Programme, dialogues on Action for
Climate Empowerment and the Durban Forum on Capacity Building.
Structure of the Platform
The structure of the Platform should support the fruitful exchange of experiences and best practice in
a way that usefully informs decision-makers.
In Australia’s view, the most suitable avenue to allow exchange of information and inform decisionmaking is through dialogue and sharing information through online portals. Australia considers that
the Platform should assemble as an annual mandated event held in parallel with the Subsidiary Body
session, which complements a dedicated information exchange portal on the UNFCCC website. The
structure of each annual dialogue should be left to the COP Presidency to best reflect changing focus
topics and themes for discussion.
The Platform should be inclusive and be open to all Parties and observers. Local communities and
indigenous groups should be given a strong role in organisation and participation. Indigenous peoples
currently engage with the UNFCCC through the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate
Change (IIPFCC). The IIPFCC is the global caucus for (subnational, national and global) indigenous
peoples’ organisations to reach agreement on a consolidated position for indigenous peoples’
priorities at specific UNFCCC processes. Consistent with the aims of the UNDRIP, Australia
recommends consulting with the IIPFCC on the structure, mandate and modalities of the Platform to
ensure that it is fit for purpose.
The structure should reflect best practice and take into account the lessons learned from other
agendas and dialogues under the UNFCCC including the Action for Climate Empowerment dialogues
and the meetings of the Durban Forum on Capacity-building. These fora have facilitated constructive
exchanges among all participants and have contained a variety of useful knowledge sharing methods
including expert presentations, case studies, roundtable discussions and group exercises.
Importantly, the structure of the Platform should not infringe on the rules of procedure established
under the UNFCCC and the organisation of the Platform should be developed within the constraints
of the UNFCCC budget and resources of the Secretariat.
Conclusion
Countries should respect, promote and consider the rights of indigenous peoples and local
communities when taking action to address climate change. Parties can learn a great deal from
indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge, adaptation methods and experience in ecosystem
management. We support an incremental approach to the operationalisation of the Platform and
welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues at the multi-stakeholder dialogue in Bonn at SB46.