October 2009: Now available in English, Spanish and French, the UN Development Group’s (UNDG) Guidelines on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues call for indigenous peoples’ full participation in the definition and implementation of policies and plans related to climate change impact mitigation.

The Guidelines further stress that indigenous peoples’ traditional ecological knowledge should be considered as an important element within the adaptation debate. They highlight that the direct and indirect impacts of climate change may threaten indigenous laws, beliefs and customs, as well as indigenous peoples’ very existence, particularly of those living in the Arctic, small islands, high altitude areas, drylands and other vulnerable environments. They also recall that although indigenous communities have contributed the least to the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases because of their traditional practices, they are the first to face direct adverse consequences.
Prepared by a task team of the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues, a group comprised of 31 UN agencies, funds and programmes and other intergovernmental organizations, the Guidelines aim at assisting the UN system to mainstream and integrate indigenous peoples’ issues in processes for operational activities and programmes at the country level. [UNDG guidelines on indigenous peoples’ issues]