Photo by Royce Pantua of DFA Office of Public Diplomacy
9-10 December 2024, Manila, Philippines
OPENING REMARKS
Ms. Clarissa C. Arida
Acting Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
His Excellency Angelito A. Nayan, Philippine Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights;
His Excellency Phothideth Sensathith, Alternate Representative of AICHR Lao PDR;
His Excellency Edmund Bon Tai Soon, Representative of AICHR Malaysia;
His Excellency U Nyunt Swe, Representative of AICHR Myanmar;
Her Excellency Prof. Dr. Amara Pongsapich, Representative of AICHR Thailand;
Her Excellency Hae Kyong Yu, Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines;
Atty. Jonas Leones, DENR Undersecretary and Chairperson of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment – Philippines and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Governing Board;
Representatives from the ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat, the United Nations sectoral bodies, indigenous groups and local communities, civil society organisations, human rights and environment champions, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning! Magandang umaga!
The indigenous peoples and local communities or IPLCs serve as guardians of our natural resources and therefore, are our reliable partners in climate actions. The IPLCs as stewards of global biodiversity are at the forefront of climate mitigation and adaptation.
The challenges posed by the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and the continuing vulnerability of IPLCs, all call for further strengthening global, regional and cross-sectoral cooperation at all levels, entailing a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach.
World leaders have recognised that addressing climate change requires vital services that biodiversity and healthy ecosystems provide. At the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, there was a strong call for states to prioritise effective actions to combat climate change and to provide sufficient funds to finance in accordance with human rights. Significant outcomes were achieved, emphasising the urgent need for strengthened climate action.
At the Climate COP, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity highlighted the importance of integrating biodiversity into climate strategies, recognising that actions aimed at enhancing biodiversity often translate into effective climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. The ACB also re-echoed the ASEAN Joint Statements at the UNFCCC COP 29 and at the UN Biodiversity Conference or CBD COP 16, emphasising nature and biodiversity as entry points for climate action in the region.
The important role that IPLCs play in conservation efforts was one of the key messages at the CBD COP16 in Cali hailed as “The People’s COP”. The CBD COP16 acknowledged the unique role of IPLCs, their innovations, practices, and traditional knowledge in the implementation of the CBD and its Protocols. It recognised the need for the full and effective participation of IPLCs through a permanent subsidiary body, the Subsidiary Body of Article 8J.
With this decision, indigenous peoples are not only participants to the COP but they are part of the decision-making and part of the solutions.
With the establishment of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8J, IPLC rights, contributions, and traditional knowledge are integrated into the global agenda.
At the UNFCCC COP 29, Parties agreed on the International Carbon Market Standards, also known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, and set the tone on how carbon markets should operate. While this is a landmark decision, environmental and social safeguards have to be kept, including upholding the rights of the IPLCs, local communities, and the marginalised.
This ‘Workshop on Best Practices in Promoting Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge in Responding and Adapting to the Impact of Climate Change’ today and tomorrow is a manifestation of ASEAN’s commitment to fulfill the objectives of both the UNFCCC and the UN CBD, in addressing the loss of biodiversity towards living in harmony with nature and thereby, increasing the resilience of nature and people to adapt to climate impacts. More importantly, this workshop demonstrates inclusiveness—in advancing climate action—towards a community-centered and human rights-based approach.
The ACB supports the ASEAN Member States in promoting nature-based solutions that incorporate traditional knowledge to protect vulnerable groups from the detrimental impacts of climate change. The ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme, one of the regional flagship programmes of ASEAN—promotes effective management of protected areas, with the engagement of IPLCs recognising their indigenous and traditional knowledge in the conservation of these high-value ecosystems and heritage areas.
In COP 16, ASEAN also launched the ASEAN Biodiversity Plan that provides general direction of priorities on the vision for 2050, that is, “biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people”. The Plan will take urgent actions to halt and reverse biodiversity loss to put nature on a path to recovery for the benefit of people and the planet.
The ASEAN Biodiversity Plan also supports increased engagement of youth, women, persons with disabilities, and IPLCs in biodiversity conservation programmes, projects, activities, consultations, and decision-making processes at all levels.
I express our heartfelt gratitude to the organisers—the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights – AICHR Philippines and its partners—the Australian Human Rights Commission, and Child Rights Coalition Asia, for having the ACB as part of these very important and timely conversations.
I am confident that with this AICHR-led workshop, we would be able to enrich our understanding of the interconnectedness of our common needs and challenges. With the array of imminent speakers, we look forward to a deeper appreciation on the role of indigenous and traditional knowledge and practices in responding to the impacts of climate change, towards a more resilient ASEAN Community. Maraming Salamat po. Thank you very much.
