November 27, 2023 – The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) will be in Dubai to carry the voice of Inuit at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 28th Conference of Parties (COP 28). More than 70,000 people are expected to gather in the United Arab Emirates city at what is expected to be a key turning point in international climate change action. There are many key outcomes anticipated for COP28, including the conclusion of the first ever global stocktake and the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund. The latter was agreed to at last year’s climate change negotiations in Egypt. ICC is calling for Indigenous Peoples in the northern hemisphere to be included in this fund.
The global stocktake is the process through which countries determine how much progress has been made – or has not been made – towards achieving the goals in the 2015 Paris Agreement. One of the key goals is ensuring that average global temperatures stay below 1.5C, a target that the world community is in danger of exceeding. It is a target that ICC has been, and will continue to, advocate for, as a bare minimum, in all our interventions at COP 28.
“ICC is sending a strong delegation to COP28. We are at a turning point, and there needs to be urgent action and commitments to ensure Inuit are directly involved in decisions that impact us” said ICC Vice Chair, Lisa Qiluqqi Koperqualuk. “For too long, Parties have been making decisions for us, but the world no longer has this luxury. We are running out of time and Inuit hold the answers. We look forward to following the negotiations closely and building strong connections to ensure nothing happens about us, without us.”
COP 28 runs from November 30 – December 12 in Dubai. ICC’s delegation is led by Chair Sara Olsvig, Vice-Chair Lisa Qiluqqi Koperqualuk, and includes Indigenous Knowledge Holders, youth and experts from across Inuit Nunaat.
ICC produced a position paper for COP28 with five clear recommendations that highlight Inuit concerns and calls to action to international leaders, the science community, private industry and others. The position paper points to how Indigenous Knowledge and Indigenous-led adaptation and mitigation strategies and management practices are critical to addressing the challenges and changes occurring in the Arctic. Our inherent right of self-determination needs to be respected as the world begins to transition to a more sustainable future. Our call for action to the international community is urgent. Immediate and substantial climate action is needed that recognizes our rights, incorporates our free, prior, and informed consent, and acknowledges our inherently sustainable relationship with the land, water, and ice and our traditional food resources. These are not only resources, but are also central to our culture and worldview.
“Human rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples, must be fundamental elements in the outcomes of the COP 28”, said Sara Olsvig, ICC Chair. “We have seen Parties discuss terms like just transition, but they continue to fail to acknowledge the fundamental paradigm shift that needs to occur to tackle the climate crisis. The Knowledge and worldviews of Indigenous Peoples must be fully reflected and represented in all actions and decisions taken in relation to climate change. The just transition will fail without full implementation of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Our position paper reflects this urgency and we look forward to bringing these messages to COP 28 and beyond.”
ICC’s COP 28 position paper has five clear recommendations that highlight Inuit requests to international leaders, the science community, private industry and others.
ICC’s recommendations from the position paper are:
Recommendation 1: Recognize that Inuit and other Indigenous Peoples hold a distinct status, and that all climate change work must be based on a strong human rights foundation including the human rights affirmed through the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
Recommendation 2: Ensure that all research and decision-making that impacts Inuit and Inuit Nunaat, our homeland, includes the equitable and ethical engagement of Inuit and the utilization of Indigenous Knowledge;
Recommendation 3: Actions to combat climate change must not infringe on our distinct rights, including our inherent right of self-determination, as Indigenous Peoples;
Recommendation 4: Create direct pathways for Indigenous Peoples to access equitable climate finance, including the Loss and Damage Fund, and other adaptation and mitigation related funding;
Recommendation 5: Governments must recognize the link between climate change and other environmental threats and support the advocacy and positions of Indigenous Peoples in other global processes.
Inuit delegates have a full schedule that includes meetings with Ministers and government officials, participating in the Indigenous caucus, attending Indigenous Knowledge Holders workshops and various youth focused events, as well as delivering Inuit messages at numerous official events and negotiations.
To read the position paper, please click here.
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CONTACT:
Ane Mette Andersen
ICC (Greenland)
299 34 22 25
anemette@inuit.org
Cassandra Elliott
ICC (Canada)
613-407-2642
celliott@inuitcircumpolar.com
Christina Fields
ICC (Alaska)
(907) 274-9058
christina@iccalaska.org
ICC is an international Indigenous Peoples’ Organization, founded in 1977 to strengthen unity among Inuit of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka. ICC promotes Inuit rights and interests at the international level, develops and encourages long term policies that safeguard the Arctic environment, and seeks full and effective engagement participation in the political, economic and social development of the Arctic region.
ICC holds Consultative Status II at the United Nations Economic and Social Council, is a co-founder and Permanent Participant at the Arctic Council, an Observer at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and holds Provisional Consultative Status at the International Maritime Organization alongside other advisory and consultative roles across numerous international fora.