Eliminating the effects of climate change to protect and strengthen the rights of indigenous people

Position paper at CU Model United Nations 2020

Country: New Zealand

Committee: United Nations Human Rights Council

Agenda: Eliminating the effects of climate change to protect and strengthen the rights of indigenous people

Climate change, an existential issue, which we all discuss but deny executing practical actions. The effect of climate change is much more evident than ever before. Eliminating the adversities due to change of climate is an existential urge for all of us. The front liners, the people we have defined as indigenous, are the sufferers of our environment unfriendly lifestyles. Indigenous people are the victim of severe climate change adversities. Their rights as human beings are being threatened by the impact of climate change .If they were to blame someone for climate change; it’s no other than civilized society. Because modern people live lifestyles that contradict the environment. We are not considering the health of our planet, that we say environment, while ensuring our existence. On the other hand, the indigenous people have a green lifestyle that is environment friendly.

New Zealand’s share of global carbon emission is just 0.16% where other small emitters are contributing 30% of total emission. [1]Although we contribute comparatively a small percentage of global emission, we have a strong voice to advocate and inspire bold steps towards reduction of emission. We are leading the push to eliminate inefficient fossil fuel subsidies because removing fossil fuel subsidies would reduce global emissions up to 10% by 2050.[2] New Zealand funded projects in the pacific includes improving access to clean, efficient and affordable energy and building public infrastructure that can withstand storms. We are providing 200 million dollar for climate related support, most of which will benefit pacific island countries. [3] Our key tool for reducing emissions is the Emission Trading Scheme that puts a price on emissions which create a financial incentive for business to invest in technologies and practices that reduce emissions. It also encourages foresters to plant more trees .In 2015-16 our government has invested 31 million on research into understanding climate change and its impacts. [4]

The historic Paris Agreement on climate change was signed by New Zealand and will ratify it as soon as possible. In 1997 we agreed on Kyoto Protocol and we met the target of 1st period in 2012. [5]We are now working on a 2nd agreement that was negotiated in 2015. The strategies and action plans that we can take to eliminate the effects of climate change and uphold the human rights of indigenous people are:

➢ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) should synchronize the indigenous community while analyzing and formulating climate change action plans.

➢ Adopting Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) to reduce emission and enhance foresting.

➢ United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) should be bolder to stabilize greenhouse gas emission among the nations.

➢ Building bridges between Indigenous people and the rest of the people on the aspect of combating climate change must be encouraged.

➢ Collaborative research among indigenous people and scientists to gather cumulative understanding of global climate should be initiated.

➢ Indigenous community should be engaged in the action plans of battling against climate adversities and implementation of solutions.

➢ Taking lessons from traditional knowledge of indigenous people and combine them with modern technology

➢ Participation and key role of indigenous people in formulating strategies to solve climate issues across the planet should be inspired.

➢Indigenous people’s rights should be considered with priority while implementing climate change action plans.

References:

1. World Resources Institute (2012 data) and NZ’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2014

2. NZ’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990–2014, Ministry for the Environment (https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate-change/new-zealand-greenhouse-gas-inventory-1990-2014)

3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (https://www.mfat.govt.nz/)

4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (https://www.mfat.govt.nz/

5. United Nations Treaty Collection (https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-a&chapter=27&clang=_en)