COP27 Weekly Roundup

A lot happened this past week at the UNFCCC | COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. We’ve collected a round-up of what we think you should know and a report of how ICA has been showing up and pushing back for all our relations back home.

While the official COP27 kicked off Monday, November 7, ICA has been on the ground in Egypt since October 31 to attend the Facilitative Working Group of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) and the global Indigenous Peoples Caucus pre-COP meeting. These sessions served as an opportunity for us to come together as a global Indigenous community and share a strong collective voice as we entered the UN space.

ICA is proud to participate in the Indigenous Peoples Caucus this year and stand in solidarity with Mr. Nourene Ahmet Yaya who offered the opening statement to the plenary on behalf of the caucus and reiterated that “Climate change is a matter of life and death” for our peoples. Nourene added “We have the right to full and direct participation, including our youth, women, persons with disabilities and knowledge holders, in all UNFCCC bodies and processes'' — something that has historically and continuously been a challenge for most Indigenous peoples, no matter what colonial state they reside in.

While the global leadership summit was being held on November 8, the Global Indigenous peoples pavilion held our opening ceremony to an overflowing audience. The pavilion opened with an incredible line up of powerful speakers and beautiful cultural sharing which reinforces the diversity of Indigenous peoples. The remainder of the week was filled with panel presentations, caucus meetings, press conferences, and actions led and supported by the ICA delegation alongside our relatives and allies.

As the first week comes to a close, official negotiations are starting to pick up and continue to grow concerns raised by Indigenous peoples from across the world. Our rights and knowledge continue to be sidelined and left out of the global stocktake, climate finance, and Article 6 negotiations. Big polluters like oil and gas continue to dominate the discussions with the largest delegation on the ground in Egypt, increasing their representation by 25% from last year. Their goal? Greenwashing, and promoting false solutions geared towards allowing big polluters to continue business as usual – pillaging Indigenous lands and waterways, all while making record-breaking profits off the genocide of our peoples and lands.

In the closing statement to the plenary on Saturday, November 12, Carlee Kawinehta Loft, presented these words on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus: “We remind the Parties that we have been sounding the alarm on climate change long before the world’s governments. We continue to champion the solutions necessary, despite the many continued obstacles we face… This is not the time to take incremental steps to transformational change, or to waste time financing false solutions that are predicated on further commodifying nature. Our world deserves courageous leadership that understands the linkage between human rights, the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and meaningful climate action.”

RECAP of Events & Actions in case you missed it!

at COP27:

Indigenous Voices from the Frontlines
Canadian Pavilion | November 8, 2022

Panel discussion with Karahkwinetha Goodleaf-labelle (Kanien’kehá:ka Nation), Eriel Tchekwie Deranger (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation), Rebecca Sinclair (Barren Lands First Nation & Little Saskatchewan First Nation), Breanne Lavallée-Heckert (Red River Metis Nation)

Recording coming soon.

Indigenous Rights and Sovereignty: Moving Beyond Carbon Markets and Other False Solutions
Indigenous Peoples Pavilion | November 10, 2022

Panel discussion with Rebecca Sinclair (Indigenous Climate Action), Breanne Lavallée-Heckert - (Indigenous Climate Action), Thomas Joseph (Indigenous Environmental Network)

View the Recording Here | 1:16:50

Climate Justice vs. False Corporate Schemes
Climate Justice Pavilion | November 10, 2022

Recording coming soon.

Global Models for #LANDBACK and Indigenous Led-Conservation
Indigenous Peoples Pavilion | November 10, 2022

Panel discussion with Jade Begay, Janene Yazzie, Eriel Deranger, Leila Salazar Lopez, Nicoles Yanes, and Indigenous Rep from Chile.

View the Recording Here | 1:46:38

Women Leading Fossil Fuel Divestment and a Just Transition
WECAN Press Conference | November 10, 2022

Press conference with Eriel Tchekwie Deranger (ICA), Tzeporah Berman (Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty), Leila Salazar-López (Amazon Watch), Osprey Orielle Lake (WECAN)

Recording coming soon.

Flood the COP
Direct Action | November 11, 2022

The world is experiencing devastating impacts of climate change, and people in the Global South are disproportionately affected, including horrific floods among other natural disasters.

On November 11th, we brought the FLOOD to COP27 in a large demonstration as colonial figureheads came to and from the conference, including Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. As an Indigenous organization based in the global north, we remain committed to applying pressure to rich nations to compensate and pay for Loss & Damages. #FloodTheCOP27

Indigenous Peoples Caucus Week 1
IPO Press Conference | November 11, 2022

Press conference with Tunga Rai, Eriel Deranger, and Kaeden Watts. Moderated by Kera Sherwood-O'Regan.

Recording coming soon.

Water Ceremony + Speakers
Direct Action | November 12, 2022

Indigenous and frontline activists came together Saturday for a water ceremony followed by a procession of matriarchs to the Indigenous Peoples Pavilion where the group shared stories of the politics of water.

Watch the recording here.

International Day of Action
Direct Action | November 12, 2022

Civil society groups from across COP27 came together for a people’s march within the UN space in Sharm el Sheikh.

Outside COP27:

Alternative COP: Launch of CJCM Strategic Perspective Documents
Online | November 11, 2022

Accelerate and deepen the Just Transition now.

Watch the recording here.

International Day of Action
Worldwide | November 12, 2022

On November 12th in Toronto, representatives from labour, civil society, Indigenous, youth, and environmental groups as well as multiple allies, responded to the international call for solidarity actions with the At COP 27, The World Calls Out for Climate Justice event. The group marched and amplified to key targets in a mobile rally with music, banners, multi-lingual chants, keynote speakers, and calls to action.