At UN Climate Week, Climate Change and Persecution of Indigenous Leaders Discussed

UN Climate Weeks are platforms where representatives of international organizations, governments, the scientific community, and civil society discuss practical solutions to combat climate change. These meetings facilitate the exchange of experience, strengthen cooperation, and promote initiatives aimed at adapting to climate change and mitigating its impacts.

The 2026 UN Climate Week took place from April 21 to 24 in the city of Yeosu, Republic of Korea. One of its events was an interregional meeting of the Platform for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities on Climate Change, bringing together representatives from Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Russian Federation, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus.

The discussions involved community leaders, scientists, knowledge keepers, women, and youth from Indigenous communities. Participants talked about how to integrate scientific knowledge with the centuries-old experience of local communities to address climate challenges. They also shared successful practices for adapting to climate change and preserving traditional ways of life in changing conditions.

Special attention was paid to the situation of Indigenous Peoples in different countries around the world. Meeting participants discussed cases of persecution and criminalization of Indigenous leaders, as well as environmental and human rights activists, who raise issues regarding the protection of their territories, traditional ways of life, and the consequences of climate change on international platforms. According to the participants, pressure on such leaders limits the ability of Indigenous Peoples to participate in decision-making on matters that directly affect their communities and the future of their lands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5dJYIr7DWo

IR