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| ● Resolve to maintain and reproduce their ancestral environments and systems as distinctive peoples and communities. (United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 2021) | | ● Resolve to maintain and reproduce their ancestral environments and systems as distinctive peoples and communities. (United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 2021) |
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− | |17. How do indigenous communities contribute to environmental protection? What are some of the indigenous communities most threatened by the plant biodiversity loss? | + | |17. How do indigenous communities contribute to environmental protection? What are some of the indigenous communities most threatened by the plant biodiversity loss? |
| |Original Nations (indigenous peoples) have an intimate relationship with nature and Mother Earth. Their way of thinking and doing in reciprocity, reverence, respect and responsibility in relationship with their territories are based in biocultural practices that protect life systems. | | |Original Nations (indigenous peoples) have an intimate relationship with nature and Mother Earth. Their way of thinking and doing in reciprocity, reverence, respect and responsibility in relationship with their territories are based in biocultural practices that protect life systems. |
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− | As original nations (indigenous) around the world face extreme climatic events that threaten their livelihoods and well-being, responses that stem from indigenous knowledge, experiences, wisdom and world views are being emerged. The Indigenous Peoples’ Bio cultural Climate Change Assessment Initiative (IPCCA) has emerged as an innovative response, bringing together indigenous knowledge and science in a process which links biocultural realities with complex global processes. | + | As original nations (indigenous) around the world face extreme climatic events that threaten their livelihoods and well-being, responses that stem from indigenous knowledge, experiences, wisdom and world views are being emerged. [https://ipcca.info/ The Indigenous Peoples’ Bio cultural Climate Change Assessment Initiative (IPCCA)] has emerged as an innovative response, bringing together indigenous knowledge and science in a process which links biocultural realities with complex global processes. |
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| Use of biocultural methods and tools involve communities from around the world in the assessment of climate change and local well-being and the development of evidence-based responses for climate change adaptation. | | Use of biocultural methods and tools involve communities from around the world in the assessment of climate change and local well-being and the development of evidence-based responses for climate change adaptation. |
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| Most of the territories of Original Nations are being threatened by development programs (mining, deforestation, urban sprawl, fossil fuel companies and the like). Original Peoples in the Amazon like the Huni Kui, Sapara, Quichuas, among others are being threatened by oil companies, mining and deforestation activities. The same happens in the Congo Basin and among the Otomi, Mazahua and Mexica- Nahua in Central Mexico. | | Most of the territories of Original Nations are being threatened by development programs (mining, deforestation, urban sprawl, fossil fuel companies and the like). Original Peoples in the Amazon like the Huni Kui, Sapara, Quichuas, among others are being threatened by oil companies, mining and deforestation activities. The same happens in the Congo Basin and among the Otomi, Mazahua and Mexica- Nahua in Central Mexico. |
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− | |18. Is transhumanism an element of environmental justice? | + | |18. Is transhumanism an element of environmental justice? |
| |Transhumanism is a social and philosophical movement devoted to promoting the research and development of robust human-enhancement technologies. Such technologies would augment or increase human sensory reception, emotive ability, or cognitive capacity as well as radically improve human health and extend human life spans. | | |Transhumanism is a social and philosophical movement devoted to promoting the research and development of robust human-enhancement technologies. Such technologies would augment or increase human sensory reception, emotive ability, or cognitive capacity as well as radically improve human health and extend human life spans. |
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| From the indigenous perspective, transhumanism is contrary to the natural life cycles and should be seen as environmental injustice not as environmental justice. This is based on the notion that human species are the dominant species on earth. From the perspective of indegenous communities, Artificial Intelligence should be in service of protecting the whole life systems, not just to the human species. | | From the indigenous perspective, transhumanism is contrary to the natural life cycles and should be seen as environmental injustice not as environmental justice. This is based on the notion that human species are the dominant species on earth. From the perspective of indegenous communities, Artificial Intelligence should be in service of protecting the whole life systems, not just to the human species. |
| + | |} |
| + | |
| + | === Climate Action === |
| + | {| class="wikitable" |
| + | !QUESTIONS |
| + | !ANSWERS |
| + | |- |
| + | |19. What can be done to avoid droughts? |
| + | |The highest priority is to limit human-induced climate change, and then adapt to changing precipitation patterns, through managing water resources at the watershed scale. Also we need to conserve and save water, and use it much more efficiently than we do now in many parts of the world. |
| + | |- |
| + | |20. How can people change their behavior to counter climate change? What can we do as individuals? In what ways can we engage our own communities for climate action? |
| + | |Individuals can (same answer to question 2 above in the first section of questions). |
| + | |
| + | ● Vote for politicians that have the ability/willingness to take a long-term view and who recognize the importance of the well-being of the environment, and also recognize that climate change and loss of biodiversity are not only environmental issues, but are economic, development, security, social, moral and ethical issues |
| + | |
| + | ● Support organizations that hold leaders and companies accountable for not decarbonizing fast enough and therefore violate our human rights. |
| + | |
| + | ● Vote by using your purchasing power |
| + | |
| + | ● Buy goods that are sustainable |
| + | |
| + | ● Demand sustainable investments from your pension fund & insurance companies |
| + | |
| + | ● Conserve water and reduce food waste (30-40% of our food is wasted) |
| + | |
| + | ● Buy energy-efficient appliances |
| + | |
| + | ● Insulate your house |
| + | |
| + | ● Walk more, bicycle more, use public transport more often, and telecommute if possible |
| + | |
| + | ● Drive less, and replace a fossil car with an electric car |
| + | |
| + | ● If you need to fly, use an airline that allows offsetting your carbon footprint |
| + | |
| + | ● Inspire your neighbors and relatives by example |
| + | |
| + | ● Teach your children about sustainability |
| + | |
| + | |
| + | |- |
| + | |21. Referring to point 5 on section 6b, how can the carbon dioxide be successfully removed from the atmosphere through the conservation and restoration of ecosystems? |
| + | |Conserving ecosystems, especially those that are carbon-rich (e.g., forests), rather than destroying them, means that the carbon in the soils and biomass (i.e., trees and other vegetation) is not released to the atmosphere. Restoring degraded ecosystems (e.g., deforested areas, drained wetlands, converted grasslands) by replanting with native vegetation can sequester carbon from the atmosphere. |
| + | |} |
| + | |
| + | === Climate Politics & Economy === |
| + | {| class="wikitable" |
| + | !QUESTIONS |
| + | !ANSWERS |
| + | |- |
| + | |22. What should the governments do to fight climate change? |
| + | |They should have an action plan that will achieve the Paris target of limiting warming to less than 2<sup>o</sup>C by 2100 and preferably 1.5<sup>o</sup>C. This will require all governments to contribute to reducing global emissions of greenhouse gases by about 50% relative to current emissions by 2030, and achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century. This will require transitioning to a low-carbon economy, where; (i) the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity and heat is eliminated, unless the carbon is captured prior to release into the atmosphere and then stored in depleted oil and gas wells, deep oceans and saline aquifers, and replaced with renewable energy technologies; (ii) energy is used more efficiently, e.g., electric cars, efficient buildings and appliances; (iii) more sustainable land-use practices (e.g., sustainable agriculture and forestry, and stop converting natural habitats); and (iv) elimination of fossil fuel subsidies and taxing carbon emissions. |
| + | |- |
| + | |23. What resolutions have come out of the COPs so far? Have the COPs produced any written agreements to implement these resolutions? |
| + | |All Governments agreed in Paris in 2015 to limit warming to less than 2<sup>o</sup>C and preferably 1.5<sup>o</sup>C by 2100. They also submitted written voluntary pledges (Nationally Determined Contributions) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hopefully new written pledges will be made at COP-26 in Glasgow this November. |
| + | |- |
| + | |24. Why were the targets set in previous climate agreements not achieved? What good are these agreements if they cannot be implemented? Is there any sanction mechanism for countries who do not fulfill their pledges to fight climate change? |
| + | |The Paris national pledges were voluntary and not legally binding, therefore there are no sanction mechanisms for failure to achieve the emissions targets. Some countries made their targets others didn’t for a variety of reasons, e.g., after President Obama pledged to reduce US emissions, President Trump argued that climate change was a hoax and repealed all executive orders that would have helped the US reduce its emissions significantly. However, even under the Trump presidency, some States, cities and businesses did reduce their emissions. Other countries, e.g., Australia, also has leaders who are not committed to fulfilling the Paris climate agreement. Some developing country commitments were contingent upon financial assistance, which has to some degree been lacking. While not perfect, the Paris Climate Agreement is very important. |
| + | |- |
| + | |25. Inclusiveness is very important in climate talks. Did the previous COP meetings include representatives of the indigenous peoples? |
| + | |Yes. |
| + | |- |
| + | |26. How can we balance economic growth that can guarantee development with environmental protection? |
| + | |This is the big challenge. But to succeed we must transform our economic, financial and productive systems. We need to complement the use of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with measures of inclusive wealth (built, human and natural capital) in decision-making, as inclusive wealth is a better measure of sustainable economic growth. We need to eliminate environmentally harmful fossil fuel, agricultural, fisheries, and mining subsidies which promote environmental degradation. We need to internalize externalities into the prices of goods and services (i.e., tax pollution), and we need to embrace sustainable production and consumption (i.e., a circular economy). We need to stop investing in fossil fuels and unsustainable agriculture and invest in a low-carbon economy and sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries. We need to transform our energy, agriculture and water sectors and address them as one interconnected productive system. We need to reassess our norms, values and governance systems. |
| + | |- |
| + | |27. How can global trade arrangements such as tariffs change the prospects of climate change? Won’t these arrangements have negative social consequences? |
| + | |International trade must be re-assessed. Fossil fuel and agricultural subsidies need to be eliminated, and if the initial costs of food and energy increase then social safety nets need to be developed. |
| + | |- |
| + | |28. Some multinational companies claim to be leading the way in eco-friendly practices. Should we support them if we want to help? Can they help to pave the way for national governments? |
| + | |We must absolutely support multinational companies that are genuinely eco-friendly. A lot of research is currently being conducted to develop indicators of environmental performance to assess how eco-friendly business practices are. In some cases, possibly many cases, the private sector is leading Governments in the transition to sustainability. The World Economic Forum and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development are leading players in this arena. |
| |} | | |} |