Palabras de los pueblos indígenas durante la inauguración de la COP 17

Foro internacional de los pueblos indígena sobre cambio climático

Durban, Sud África 28 de noviembre del 2011

Señoras y señores Participantes:

Agradezco a la presidencia y a la CMP 17 por esta oportunidad. Soy Presidente de la Confederación de Pueblos Indígenas de Bolivia. Hablo por el Foro Internacional de Pueblos Indígenas sobre Cambio Climático, para transmitir nuestra historia de defensa de la Vida y unidad profunda con la naturaleza. Los impactos del cambio climático son gravísimos y expresión de una crisis de civilización. Necesitamos decisiones como las siguientes:

1. Priorizar la consolidación de Territorios de nuestros Pueblos con la gestión holística, armónica, de Buen Vivir, Vida Plena, de los ecosistemas estratégicos para enfriar el planeta.
2. Detener la destrucción de la naturaleza y territorios por industrias extractivas, agroindustrias, biocombustibles, megaproyectos; y asumir las indemnizaciones respectivas.
3. Identificar y detener a los “mercaderes y estafadores del carbono”, y establecer un sistema de acreditación de operadores sobre REDD+ que sea transparente y confiable.
4. Acceso directo de nuestros Pueblos al Fondo Verde y fondos climáticos, y se prioricen en los derechos territoriales de los pueblos en su integridad, incluyendo bosques y recursos naturales.
5. Fortalecer la agricultura de nuestros pueblos, garantizando la seguridad y soberanía alimentaria, sin que sean sometidos a incentivos perversos de privatización de mercados
6. Construir mecanismos alternativos de financiamiento de la sustentabilidad social y ambiental de los bosques, basado en fondos públicos.
7. Durban debe entregar un resultado jurídicamente vinculante en la forma de una enmienda al Protocolo de Kioto para un plazo adicional de compromiso que apoye una meta agregada vinculante de reducción de emisiones para los países desarrollados (Anexo 1) de por lo menos 45% con un nivel preferido de 49% por debajo de los niveles de 1990 para 2020 y al menos 95% para 2050. CMP7 debe contar con mecanismos para la participación de nuestros Pueblos de acuerdo con la implementación de la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas.

Los invitamos a encuentros con el Caucus Indígena para avanzar en las direcciones señaladas, incluyendo el proceso hacia Rio+20. África está llena de cultura e historia. Sentimos el clamor de sus pueblos para tomar decisiones para que la humanidad que nació en estas tierras, tenga continuidad. Muchas gracias.

Oppening statement of IIPFCC at COP 17 Durban

International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change

Durban, South Africa, November 28, 2011

Mrs. and Mr. Participants:

I thank the presidency and CMP7 for this opportunity. I am the President of the Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Bolivia. I speak on behalf of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change to convey our history of defending life and profound unity with nature. The impacts of climate change are very grave and an expression of a crisis of civilization.

We need decisions like the following:

1. To prioritize the consolidation of Territories of our Peoples with the holistic, harmonic management of Living Well, Full Life, of the strategic ecosystems for cooling the planet.
2. To halt the destruction of nature and territories by extractive industries, agro-industries, biofuels, megaprojects and assume the corresponding reparations.
3. To identify and halt “carbon traders and carbon cowboys” and establish a system of accreditation of REDD+ operators that is transparent and trustworthy.
4. Direct access of our Peoples to the Green Fund and other climate funds, and prioritizing the territorial rights of peoples in their entirety including the forests and natural resources.
5. To strengthen the agriculture of our peoples, guaranteeing food security and sovereignty, without which they are subjected to perverse privatizing incentives of markets.
6. To build alternative funding mechanisms for the social and environmental sustainability of forests, based on public funds.
7. Durban must deliver a legally binding outcome in the form of an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol for the further commitment period that 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. CMP7 must have mechanisms for the participation of our Peoples in accordance with the implementation the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

We invite you to meetings with the Indigenous Caucus to advance in these directions, including the Rio+20 process.

Africa is full of culture and history. We feel the clamor of her peoples to make decisions so that humanity, which was born in these lands, has continuity.

Thank you very much.

STATEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE TO THE CONFERENCE OF PARTIES COP17

Sir/Madame President, distinguished delegates,

Indigenous peoples have a fundamental principle that governs our relationship with the land. We depend on the land, it gives us life, we are part of it and fully respect its natural cycles, everything you do or fail to do will benefit or affect us, and the impacts of climate change tell us that we share outstanding and important decisions in favor of Mother Earth. Therefore, on behalf of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, we are turning to you to recommend the following:

1. The Parties undertake to respect international norms and standards of human rights that establish moral and legal obligations to protect and promote the full enjoyment of the rights of indigenous peoples in all issues related to climate change, including land rights, territories and resources, traditional knowledge and their free, prior and informed consent, in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DNUDPI).

2. The parties to ensure full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in all mechanisms, bodies and procedures established under the UNFCCC, including mitigation, adaptation, finance, MRV (monitoring, reporting and verification) and transfer of technology.

3. The parties ensure direct and immediate access of indigenous peoples to financing through the creation of a green fund dedicated to address the priority needs of indigenous peoples; we believe that this claim is based on the historic debt that the current model of development has with indigenous peoples.

4. As a result of COP17, the Parties agree to a second commitment period 2013-2020 of the Kyoto Protocol which is binding on all states of the world. This agreement must include measures to ensure full and effective participation of indigenous peoples.

5. Finally, we call to stop the destruction of nature, Mother Earth for indigenous peoples, and therefore demand the paralyzation of extractive mega-projects on indigenous lands and fragile ecosystems that accentuate the impacts of climate change.

The planet's future is in your hands, its decisions must heal Mother Earth. We come to flourish diversity and hope that the decisions of Durban will flourish life on our planet.