Climate change impacts on Indigenous ways of life
When Aili Keskitalo, then President of the Sami Parliament spoke to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2007, she presented concern that “The degradation of the environment in Inuit and Saami traditional territories caused by e.g. pollution, non-sustainable natural resource extraction and climate change constitute a great threat to their traditional lifestyles and culture. Climate change impacts on the environment in Inuit and Saami territories, e.g. changing the fundaments for their traditional livelihoods in a paramount way”. Climate change is not only of concern in Arctic regions. In northern Australia, cyclones, floods, drought, and their effect on health and infrastructure pose a further threat as result of climate change. To find ways of handling climate change, partnership and dialogue must be created between Indigenous peoples and their governments. Keskitalo went on to commend the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for their important guidance in developing such cooperation.
The sixth session of the Permanent Forum held 14 to 25 May 2007 announced that the 2008 special theme would be “Climate Change, Bio-cultural Diversity and Livelihoods: The Stewardship role of Indigenous Peoples and new Challenges” (MessageStick June 2007)
