Draft conclusions proposed by the
Chair
Addendum
Recommendation of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice
The
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice, at its forty-seventh
session, recommended the following draft decision for
consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-third
session:
Draft decision -/CP.23
Local
communities and indigenous peoples platform
The Conference of the
Parties,
Recalling the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,[] decision 1/CP.21 and the Paris Agreement,
Emphasizing the role of local communities and indigenous peoples in achieving
the targets and goals set in the Convention, the Paris Agreement and the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development,and recognizing their vulnerability to climate change.
Reaffirming the need to strengthen the
knowledge, technologies, practices and efforts of local communities and indigenous
peoples related to addressing and responding to climate change, and the
importance of the platform established for the exchange of experience and
sharing of best practices on mitigation and adaptation in a holistic and
integrated manner,
1.
Notes with appreciation the submissions from
Parties, local communities and indigenous peoples organizations and other
relevant organizations on
the purpose, content and structure of the local communities and indigenous
peoples platform;
2.
Acknowledges the fruitful exchange of views during the open multi-stakeholder dialogue that was convened by the Chair of the Subsidiary
Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and co-moderated with a
representative of indigenous peoples organizations during the forty-sixth
session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice, on 16 and
17 May 2017;
3.
Notes with appreciation the support provided by Belgium
and New Zealand for the participation of representatives
of indigenous peoples organizations in the
multi-stakeholder dialogue referred to in paragraph 2 above;
4.
Welcomes the report on the proposals on the
operationalization of the local communities and indigenous peoples platform based
on the open multi-stakeholder dialogue referred to in paragraph 2 above and the submissions
received;
5.
Decides that
the overall purpose of the platform will be to strengthen the [exchange of views, experiences and knowledge,] and the sharing of best practices and lessons learned,
on mitigation and adaptation, in a holistic and integrated manner,[including by
enhancing the engagement] [and to
enhance the engagement] of local communities and indigenous
peoples in the UNFCCC process ;
6.
Decides that the platform will deliver
the following functions:
(a)
Knowledge: the platform should promote the exchange of experiences and best
practices by applying, strengthening, protecting and preserving traditional
knowledge, knowledge of indigenous peoples, and local knowledge systems, [and should facilitate the development
and transfer of climate technology]
with the requirement of [free,] prior
and informed consent of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and
practices;
(b)
[Capacity for engagement: the platform should build the capacities of indigenous peoples and
local communities to enable their engagement in the UNFCCC process [, along with other non-Party stakeholders] [without prejudice to the rules and
procedures of the UNFCCC].
The platform should also build the capacities of Parties and other relevant
stakeholders [to engage with the platform] [ acknowledging
that Parties should] [to] respect, promote and
consider [their] [the
Parties’] respective obligations on the rights of indigenous peoples [, local communities] [and local
communities] , including in the context of the implementation
of the Paris Agreement, and other climate change related processes;]
(c)
Climate change policies and actions: the
platform should facilitate the integration of diverse knowledge systems,
practices and innovations in designing and implementing international and
national actions, programmes and policies in a manner that respects and promotes
the rights and interests of local communities and indigenous peoples. The
platform should facilitate stronger and more ambitious climate action by
indigenous peoples and local communities , which could contribute to the
achievement of the NDC of the Party concerned;
7.
Recommends that the platform [develops
strategic linkages, synergies and coordination with stakeholders, entities, and mechanisms both under and
outside the UNFCCC process];
7.alt Recommends that the platform [provides [an interface] [for exchange and collaboration] between representative organizations of local
communities, indigenous peoples, and [relevant] stakeholders, entities, and mechanisms both under
and outside the UNFCCC process ];
7 alt 2 Recommends
that the platform [consults [and be consulted], as appropriate, with [relevant] stakeholders,
entities and mechanisms both under and outside the UNFCCC process];
7 alt 3 Recommends
that, the platform is [guided by the purposes and the principles of the
Charter of the United Nations, noting the importance of territorial integrity
and the political unity of sovereign and independent states, as reflected in
article 46 of the UNDRIP] and [develops strategic linkages, synergies and
coordination with stakeholders, entities, and mechanisms both under and outside
the UNFCCC process]
2.
8.
[Decides that the [platform] [the local communities and indigenous
peoples platform] initiate its work [under [the Subsidiary Body
for Scientific and Technological Advice] [Subsidiary Body for Implementation] [the
Conference of Parties]];]
[8.bis Encourages Parties and
indigenous peoples and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles to
meet on a voluntary basis, in conjunction with
the sessions of the Conference of the Parties, in order to carry out the functions
of the platform referred to in paragraph 6. ]
9.
Welcomes [decides to establish a facilitative group] [the establishment of a [name of a
structure]] to lead the operationalization of
the platform; [The facilitative group consists of x
representatives of Parties and x representatives of local communities and
indigenous peoples with local communities and indigenous peoples
to follow their own selection of representatives, taking
into account regional and gender balance, and be led by zz co-chairs.]
9.alt1 Decides
that four co-chairs shall be appointed to jointly lead the meetings in
paragraph 8 bis, such that:
a. Two Party
representatives appointed as co-chairs by the current and incoming Presidencies
of the Conferences of the Parties; and
b. Two
representatives, of indigenous peoples and local communities embodying
traditional lifestyles, appointed as co-chairs by indigenous peoples
organizations [by the Convention’s
indigenous peoples constituencies.
9. Alt2
Decides also to establish an ad-hoc open-ended working group to lead the
operationalization of the platform, [requesting] [inviting] the participation of country Parties and
local communities and indigenous peoples representatives, taking into account
regional and gender balanced representation, with local communities and
indigenous peoples to follow their own selection of representatives, as appropriate.
10.
[Encourages the involvement of indigenous peoples in the [name of a structure], to
guide the work of the platform, taking into account regional and gender balance;
11.
[Requests the secretariat to support the [work of the facilitative group] [work of the ad-hoc open ended working group on the
operationalization of the local communities and indigenous
peoples platform, as appropriate] [name of a structure] [by]:
(a)
[[placeholder
for responsibilities]] ]
12.
Requests [the co-chairs] [the facilitative group] [ to organize and
develop the agenda for the [annual] meetings
referred to in paragraph 8, with the first meeting taking place in conjunction with [the 24th
session of the COP]; [the ad-hoc
open ended working group on the operationalization of local communities and
indigenous peoples platform, to convene two meetings per year in parallel with the
meetings of the subsidiary bodies of the Convention;]
13.
Requests the [co-chairs][facilitative
group] [ad-hoc open ended working group on the
operationalization of local communities and indigenous peoples platform to
organize its first meeting [in
conjunction with] [ at ]the SBSTA 48 [and
to develop its initial work plan [consistent
with the above-mentioned functions of the platform, specifying the main outputs
and activities, for the period up to the end of the xx session of the Conference of the Parties] [with specific outputs and
activities, with a view to finalize the work plan of the platform by the 24th
session of the COP];]
14.
[Requests [the facilitative group] to strive towards balanced
representation at such [annual] [xx] meetings with respect to Parties,
indigenous peoples and local communities [embodying
traditional lifestyles], including from all geographic
regions of the world, as well as gender;]
15.
[Requests the [the facilitative group] to
develop modalities and procedures of the platform at the [xx] meeting;]
16.
[Decides
that the [the facilitative group ] will
undertake the following interim activities [between xx and xx] to execute the
functions outlined in paragraph 6 above:
(a)
[placeholder for activities]]
17.
[Requests
the [the
secretariat] [the ad-hoc open
ended working group on the operationalization of local communities and
indigenous peoples platform] to prepare a report on the outcomes of [the] [its]
meetings referred to in paragraph [12] [14] above
[and of the activities referred to in
paragraph 16 above [for
consideration at xx session of the xx];]]
18.
[Invites Parties, local
communities and indigenous peoples organizations and other relevant
organizations to submit, by [xx][ 31 March 2018],
their views on:
(a)
An initial [xx year] [2019] work plan for the platform,
including key outputs and activities;
a alt ) An
agenda for the initial meeting referred to in paragraph xx;
(b)
The
platform’s modalities and procedures.]
[18 bis. Requests the co-chairs to strive towards
the meetings referenced in paragraphs xx having balanced representation from
Parties as well as indigenous peoples and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles, including from
all geographic regions of the world, and by gender. ]
[18 ter.
Decides that for the meetings referred to in paragraph x, the co-chairs may
seek input from relevant bodies established under the Convention, international
and regional organizations, local communities embodying traditional lifestyles,
and indigenous peoples. ]
19.
Decides to review progress made [on the work of the
[local communities and indigenous peoples]platform] xx [2019]
at [its xx] [at the 25th
session of the COP] [session]
with a view to [evaluating progress] [considering
its extension] and further enhancing the [name of the platform] [local communities and indigenous peoples platform]
platform;
[19 alt. Requests the SBSTA at its 52nd
session to review the platform, and to make recommendations on these matters to
the COP at its 26th
session. ]
20.
Encourages Parties to intensify their
efforts to improve the participation of representatives of local communities
and indigenous peoples in their delegations, and in the
constituted bodies established under the Convention , the Kyoto Protocol and
the Paris Agreement;
21.
[Encourages Parties and relevant organizations to continue to support training
and capacity-building efforts, [for local communities and indigenous peoples] [delegates from
Parties] [for local communities and indigenous peoples
delegates from developing country Parties, in particular [countries with
the least capacities such as] the LDCs, and [those that are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of
climate change, such as] the SIDS] [particularly
for delegates from local communities and indigenous peoples organizations
representing Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of
climate change, including the least developed countries and small island
developing States;]
22.
[Invites] [Encourages] [developed country]
Parties [and other Parties and non-Party
stakeholders in a position to do so]
to provide financial resources for the operationalization of the platform[, in particular for implementing the responsibilities
outlined in paragraph xx−xx
above;]
23.
Takes note of the budgetary implications
of the activities to be undertaken by the secretariat referred to paragraphs xx–xx above;
24.
Requests that the actions of the
secretariat called for in this decision be undertaken subject to the
availability of financial resources.
Indigenous
Peoples had the opportunity to introduce the common principles in the paragraph
8 of the final text of the platform. No matter the type of official meetings, the
voices of indigenous peoples were heard. This is the first time we have seen
this level of engagement and perhaps it is a good step in the right direction. 
