MILAN DECLARATION
6thInternational Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change
9th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change
November 29-30, 2003, Milan, ItalyWe, the representatives of the
Indigenous Peoples of the world present at the 6th International
Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change held prior to the 9th
Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Milan, Italy, restate our principles
and present the following proposals on matters concerning our peoples
and communities:
1. Reaffirming that our special relationship with Mother Earth is
sacred
and must be honoured, protected and loved. We further declare our
holistic vision which strongly binds biological diversity, cultural
and spiritual identity and unites people with its ancestral territories.
Our ancestral territories, spiritual, social, biological and cultural
resources are the fundamental basis for our existence, health and
livelihoods but are threatened and destroyed by climate change and
its consequences;
2. Recalling, during the International Decade of the World’s
Indigenous Peoples (1995-2004),
the United Nations has clearly recognized our rights to participate
in the UN processes through the establishment of the UN Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII); the UN Permanent Forum, in
its last session, has recommended to the UNFCCC through United Nations
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to consider the establishment
of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change for
the effective participation of Indigenous Peoples [EC.19/2003/32];
3. Noting …"the vital role of Indigenous Peoples in sustainable
development"
as affirmed by the political declaration of the World Summit on
Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002 in paragraph 25;
4. Affirming the international provisions already acknowledged
in other international instruments and mechanisms that ensure our
participation and contribution within the discussions, such as:
The Rio de Janeiro Declaration on the Environment and Development
(in particular Principle 22), the Agenda 21 (in particular Chapters
11 and 26); the Convention on Biological Diversity (in particular
Article 8 (j) and related provisions); the Convention on Elimination
of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; the Statement on Forest Principles
and IPF/IF/UNFF; Convention 169 of the ILO on Indigenous and Tribal
Peoples, among others;
5. Reaffirming our previous declarations
of the First International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change
at Lyon, France in September 2000; Declaration of Second International
Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, The Hague, The Netherlands,
November 2000; and Indigenous Peoples Statement at 7th Conference
of the Parties at Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco, 5th November 2001;
the International Indigenous Peoples Forum’s Statement of
New Delhi, India at the 8th Conference of Parties in October 2002;
Indigenous Peoples Political Declaration at Bali, Indonesia, June
2002; the Kimberley Declaration and the Indigenous Peoples’
Plan of Implementation on Sustainable Development, at WSSD, South
Africa August 2002.
6. Expressing our appreciation to the Executive Secretary of the
UNFCCC,
Ms. Joke Waller-Hunter for the statement made on the International
Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9, 2003 taking
“special note of the contribution and aspirations of indigenous
peoples in addressing complex global issues.”
We therefore call upon the States Parties of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change that:
a. COP 9 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
recognizes the fundamental role of Indigenous Peoples in addressing
climate change and environmental degradation to restore the natural
balance.
b. COP 9 considers the creation of the Inter-sessional Ad hoc Working
Group on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change for the timely, effective
and adequate solutions in response to the urgent situation caused
by climate change.
c. COP 9 provides necessary support to indigenous peoples for their
full and effective participation in all levels of discussion, decision
making and implementation as well as ensuring that the necessary
funding be provided to guarantee such participation and to strengthen
their capacities.
d. Include Indigenous Peoples and climate change as items in the
agenda of the COP and the Subsidiary Bodies meetings with specific
reference to vulnerability, adaptation, poverty, and other climate
change related issues.
e. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation
(JI) must incorporate principles which address transparency, free,
prior and informed consent and equitable benefit sharing with Indigenous
Peoples in order to accomplish the objectives of lowering greenhouse
gas emissions and achieving sustainable development in developed
and developing countries.
f. All development projects within indigenous ancestral territories
must respect our fundamental rights to lands, territories, self-determination
and ensure our right to our free, prior and informed consent. Sinks
project do not contribute to climate change mitigation and sustainable
development. The modalities and procedures for afforestation and
reforestation project activities under the CDM do not respect and
guarantee our right to lands, territories, and self-determination.
g. We vigorously support the creation and financing of the Adaptation
Fund to be accessed by Indigenous Peoples to address the potential
and actual impacts of climate change in a manner compatible with
our traditional knowledge, customs, culture and lifestyles.
h. We express our desire to be included in UNFCCC capacity building
initiatives and propose that special capacity building be undertaken
for Indigenous Peoples. Such capacity building would strengthen
our ability to exercise our right to fully participate in climate
change negotiations.
i. We call upon all governments to implement Climate Impact Assessments
which take into account indigenous knowledge systems, culture, social
values, spirituality and ecosystems; as well as the full and equal
participation of Indigenous Peoples in all aspects and stages of
the assessment.
Recognizing all of the above, we call upon the UNFCCC to recognize
that through the protection and promotion of Indigenous Peoples’
rights and through recognizing and integrating our dynamic and holistic
visions, we are securing not only our future, but the future of
humanity and social and environmental justice for all.Signed by
the representatives of Indigenous Peoples present at COP 9 of UNFCCC
in Milan, Italy, 30th November 2003.
Marcial Arias, Panama
Fundacion para la Promocion de Conocimiento Indigena Parshuram
Tamang, Nepal
International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the
Tropical Forests
Stella Tamang, Nepal
South Asia Indigenous Women Forum Raymond de Chavez, Philippines
Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy
Research and Education)
Kalimba Zephyrin, Rwanda
Association for the
Promotion of Batwa (APB) Penninah Zaninka, Uganda
United Organization for Batwa Development in Uganda (UOBDU)
Fiu Mataese Elisara-Laulu, Samoa
O le Siosiomaga Society Sukhendo Debbarma, India
Tribal Peoples Development Center, Tripura
Hubertus Samangun, Indonesia
ICTI-Tanimbar Flor Morales, Costa Rica
Asociación IXACAVAA de desarrollo e información
indígena
Sandy Gauntlet,
Pacific Indigenous Peoples Environment Coalition (PIPEC)
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