Representatives from indigenous peoples from around the world have discussed for 5 days on the importance to tackle urgently climate change-related problems. To that end, they want a voice in decision-making institutions. The Indigenous Peoples Summit on Climate Change, held in Anchorage (Alaska) from 20-24 April, has gathered 500 indigenous delegates from the Arctic, North America, South America, the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean and Russia. In its final declaration, indigenous peoples say that they are "deeply alarmed by the accelerating climate devastation brought about by unsustainable development". They also demand a drastic reduction of emissions and call on recognizing "the importance of traditional knowledge and practices shared by indigenous people in addressing strategies to mitigate climate change".

Declaration signatories call for participation mechanisms to be set up so that they can have a voice in the decision-making processes such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The declaration calls upon developed countries to support a binding emissions reduction target of at least 45% below 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 95% by 2050. According to their proposals, States must accordingly work towards decreasing dependency on fossil fuels.

Attendants at the summit have also discussed about the need to secure indigenous rights, including land property, and the creation of a working group with the native peoples within the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The Anchorage Declaration, which has been supported by all the participants, will be forwarded to the next UN summit on climate change, which is set to take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, next December. The text could then be discussed during the revision of the Kyoto Protocol.

Further information:

• Galdu: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: We Want Voice in Climate Decisions
• La Opinión: Pueblos indígenas quieren luchar contra el cambio climático
• Ips Noticias: AMBIENTE: Sabiduría indígena contra el cambio climático