Women's roundtable: Indigenous leaders and experts discuss climate justice

On August 28, 2024, a roundtable took place bringing together various panelists to discuss the integration of indigenous perspectives into climate policies. Moderated by Maritza Paredes, the discussion covered perspectives on territorial security, climate financing, and the need for greater collaboration between sectors and with indigenous representatives for climate justice.

The event brought together prominent voices in the field of climate justice and indigenous participation, including Fabiola Muñoz, former Minister of MIDAGRI and MINAM; Nelly Luna, environmental journalist; Nelsith Sangama from AIDESEP; Maite de Cea from Diego Portales University (Chile); and Ketty Marcelo from ONAMIAP.

The goal of the roundtable was to create a space for discussing the challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples in the context of climate change and to explore how to advance towards climate justice in an effective, intersectional, and cross-sectoral manner.

Event Introduction

Peter Hausschnick, representing the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and an ally of PUCP in this activity, opened the event by highlighting the importance of amplifying indigenous voices in the climate discussion. Hausschnick presented the "Puna Resiliente" project, which focuses on climate change adaptation in high Andean regions. This project, coordinated by PUCP in collaboration with Diego Portales University and funded by IDRC Canada, aims to integrate Indigenous Peoples into climate policy formulation in Peru and Chile.

Key messages from the panelists

• Ketty Marcelo, President of ONAMIAP, spoke about the connection between territorial security and climate justice. Marcelo emphasized that a lack of territorial security limits Indigenous communities' ability to protect their resources and manage their lands. She also highlighted the importance of public policies that recognize nature as a subject of rights and promote the recovery of natural resources and food sovereignty.
• Nelsith Sangama, representative of AIDESEP, discussed the importance of climate justice for Amazonian Indigenous Peoples. Sangama noted that deforestation and illegal activities severely impact these communities. He highlighted AIDESEP's efforts in implementing regulations and plans to protect territories and promote a sustainable Indigenous economy.
• Fabiola Muñoz, former Minister of Environment, shared her experiences regarding the inclusion of indigenous perspectives in public policy formulation. Muñoz emphasized the importance of dialogue and collaboration between sectors to address the climate crisis comprehensively. She also underscored the need to strengthen the capacities of indigenous leaders to negotiate effectively and tackle climate challenges. In this context, she noted that women have made significant efforts to maintain dialogue between the State and Indigenous Organizations, despite the problems and challenges involved.
• Nelly Luna, a journalist from Ojo Público, reflected on the role of the media in highlighting Indigenous struggles for climate justice. Luna noted that, although environmental issues have gained prominence in the public agenda, challenges in media coverage that affect Indigenous rights still persist. She provided examples of how media coverage has driven changes and actions in support of Indigenous communities.
• Maite de Cea, sociologist from Diego Portales University, discussed the impacts of climate change on Indigenous Peoples in Chile and the frustration surrounding the constitutional process regarding their recognition. De Cea explained how extractive exploitation and inadequate policies affect Indigenous territories and emphasized the need for genuine and representative participation in decision-making processes related to climate change.

Questions and answers

During the event, questions were raised about developing success indicators for climate public policies, Indigenous perceptions of carbon markets, and implementing Indigenous alternatives to REDD+. The panelists addressed these concerns, providing valuable perspectives on how to overcome challenges and improve the inclusion of Indigenous communities in climate policies.

Conclusion

Maritza Paredes concluded the event by thanking the panelists and attendees for their participation. The roundtable highlighted the importance of integrating Indigenous perspectives and knowledge into the formulation of climate policies, as well as the need to strengthen collaboration among different sectors to achieve effective climate justice.