Since the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) more than three decades ago in 1992, the global climate regime has evolved into an expansive multilateral effort, with significant outcomes over the years including the Paris Agreement. It is a multi-layered system of negotiations, constituted and technical bodies, observers, and implementation streams. Within this system, the communities most affected by climate change have had varying levels of access and input. For Indigenous Peoples (IPs), the journey toward meaningful participation in the UNFCCC is one of resilience, advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to safeguarding the Earth for generations to come. Their involvement is rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems, spiritual and customary ties to land and territory, and long-standing efforts to assert their rights (including but not limited to their rights under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) in international forums.
There has also been a path for engagement for local communities more generally, under the UNFCCC process. Many local and traditional communities, which are often deeply connected to specific ecosystems through customary and traditional practices, subsistence livelihoods, and place-based knowledge, are also on the frontlines of climate impacts. Their participation in the UNFCCC process as “local communities” has been less institutionalized than that of IPs thus far, but many have built coalitions, engaged in adaptation planning, and contributed valuable experience in community-based natural resource management.
From the first Conference of the Parties (COP 1) in Berlin in 1995, IPs began engaging with the UNFCCC process to highlight that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a profound threat to their cultures, land rights, and ways of life. Early participation was largely informal, with IPs engaging in side events and civil society spaces. These efforts laid the groundwork for increased visibility over the years.
IP participation has been institutionalised in the negotiation process since 2000 when the UNFCCC Secretariat recognized Indigenous Peoples as a formal constituency. As one of the nine official constituencies for observer organizations, Indigenous Peoples' organizations may apply for accreditation under the Convention. Once accredited, they can nominate participants to attend and contribute to meetings of the Convention’s various bodies.
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, momentum around forest-based mitigation under the UNFCCC also picked up, particularly through the development of REDD+1. COP 16 in Cancun in 2010 was a milestone, where the adoption of the Cancun Agreements (Decision 1/CP.16) included a set of safeguards that underscored the importance of IPs and members of local communities in REDD+ implementation. The text specifically called for “respect for the knowledge and rights of Indigenous Peoples and members of local communities” and emphasized “the full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, in particular Indigenous Peoples and local communities”.
The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), which was established in 2008, is the caucus for Indigenous Peoples’ participation. It advocates for Indigenous rights, perspectives, worldviews, and knowledge to be respected by Parties and in the decisions adopted under the UNFCCC. The IIPFCC facilitates joint positions and coordinated advocacy2. The IIPFCC serves as a political and coordinating body, and operates within the framework of the Indigenous Peoples’ Constituency, which is the official observer channel through which Indigenous organizations participate in the UNFCCC, granting them access to sessions, side events, and the ability to submit statements.
The International Indigenous Youth Forum on Climate Change was established in 2023 as a working group of the IIPFCC, and held its first General Assembly at COP 29. Around 70 Indigenous youth from all seven socio-cultural regions3 took part. The Assembly focused on setting collective priorities, such as improved access to thematic training, intergenerational dialogue, and funding to support youth participation in the negotiations.
A key milestone came in 2015 with the adoption of the Paris Agreement, which acknowledged the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the importance of traditional knowledge systems in addressing climate change. The preamble specifically refers to the need to respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and affirms the relevance of traditional knowledge, knowledge of indigenous peoples, and local knowledge systems.
To support this recognition, the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) was established at COP 23 in 2017.4 It is the first formal mechanism under the UNFCCC with a mandate to include IPs and local communities in a structured and continuous manner. The Platform was created to strengthen the knowledge, technologies, practices, and efforts of local communities and IPs, in relation to addressing and responding to climate change; as well as to facilitate the exchange of experience and the sharing of best practices and lessons learned in a holistic and integrated manner. It also aims to enhance the engagement of both IPs and local communities in the UNFCCC process.
The LCIPP is further operationalized by the Facilitative Working Group (FWG), established in 2018. FWG membership comprises fourteen representatives, half of which are representatives from Indigenous Peoples organizations, and the other half of which are representatives of Parties (the addition of three representatives of local communities and three additional Party representatives is still under consideration). Indigenous representatives are nominated through a self-selection process, in line with the Platform's principles. The FWG is the first constituted body under the UNFCCC process that has dedicated seats for IP representatives. It plays a key role in shaping the workplan and ensuring collaborative implementation. At COP 29 in 2024, the FWG adopted its third three-year workplan.
Although formal participation opportunities have expanded, Indigenous Peoples as well as local communities continue to face challenges in relation to their participation in the UNFCCC process. These difficulties, such as travel support and accreditation, language barriers, and the technical complexity of negotiation tracks, limit their full and effective participation.
Ongoing advocacy by civil society as well as efforts by the UNFCCC secretariat, some Parties, and observer constituencies aim to enhance accessibility, strengthen capacity, and improve the transparency of processes. Addressing these issues is critical to ensure that IPs and local communities are not only able to attend sessions but can meaningfully engage in shaping decisions that affect them. IPs’ holistic worldviews and focus on intergenerational responsibility align with the long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement and support more just and inclusive approaches to climate action. Research consistently shows that Indigenous-managed lands sustain higher biodiversity and lower deforestation rates than other areas, directly contributing to climate change mitigation and ecosystem integrity.
Local communities also play a crucial role through their stewardship of natural resources and lived experience with climate impacts. Their practices in sustainable land management, risk reduction, and locally led adaptation offer critical insights that can enhance national and global responses to climate change. Both IPs and local communities bring complementary perspectives to climate ambition.
As the UNFCCC process evolves, it remains essential to ensure that IPs and local communities engage meaningfully and consistently. Mechanisms such as the LCIPP should inform broader thematic workstreams, and further attention should be given to support participation and reflect diverse knowledge systems in implementation. The full and effective participation of IPs and of local communities is vital to the long-term success of the Paris Agreement.
SLYCAN Trust is a non-profit think tank. It has been a registered legal entity in the form of a trust since 2016, and a guarantee limited company since 2019. The entities focus on the thematic areas of climate change, adaptation and resilience, sustainable development, environmental conservation and restoration, social justice, and animal welfare. SLYCAN Trust’s activities include legal and policy research, education and awareness creation, capacity building and training, and implementation of ground level action. SLYCAN Trust aims to facilitate and contribute to multi-stakeholder driven, inclusive and participatory actions for a sustainable and resilient future for all.
Since the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) more than three decades ago in 1992, the global climate regime has evolved into an expansive multilateral effort, with significant outcomes over the years including the Paris Agreement. It is a multi-layered system of negotiations, constituted and technical bodies, observers, and implementation streams. Within this system, the communities most affected by climate change have had varying levels of access and input. For Indigenous Peoples (IPs), the journey toward meaningful participation in the UNFCCC is one of resilience, advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to safeguarding the Earth for generations to come. Their involvement is rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems, spiritual and customary ties to land and territory, and long-standing efforts to assert their rights (including but not limited to their rights under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) in international forums.
There has also been a path for engagement for local communities more generally, under the UNFCCC process. Many local and traditional communities, which are often deeply connected to specific ecosystems through customary and traditional practices, subsistence livelihoods, and place-based knowledge, are also on the frontlines of climate impacts. Their participation in the UNFCCC process as “local communities” has been less institutionalized than that of IPs thus far, but many have built coalitions, engaged in adaptation planning, and contributed valuable experience in community-based natural resource management.
From the first Conference of the Parties (COP 1) in Berlin in 1995, IPs began engaging with the UNFCCC process to highlight that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a profound threat to their cultures, land rights, and ways of life. Early participation was largely informal, with IPs engaging in side events and civil society spaces. These efforts laid the groundwork for increased visibility over the years.
IP participation has been institutionalised in the negotiation process since 2000 when the UNFCCC Secretariat recognized Indigenous Peoples as a formal constituency. As one of the nine official constituencies for observer organizations, Indigenous Peoples' organizations may apply for accreditation under the Convention. Once accredited, they can nominate participants to attend and contribute to meetings of the Convention’s various bodies.
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, momentum around forest-based mitigation under the UNFCCC also picked up, particularly through the development of REDD+1. COP 16 in Cancun in 2010 was a milestone, where the adoption of the Cancun Agreements (Decision 1/CP.16) included a set of safeguards that underscored the importance of IPs and members of local communities in REDD+ implementation. The text specifically called for “respect for the knowledge and rights of Indigenous Peoples and members of local communities” and emphasized “the full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, in particular Indigenous Peoples and local communities”.
The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), which was established in 2008, is the caucus for Indigenous Peoples’ participation. It advocates for Indigenous rights, perspectives, worldviews, and knowledge to be respected by Parties and in the decisions adopted under the UNFCCC. The IIPFCC facilitates joint positions and coordinated advocacy2. The IIPFCC serves as a political and coordinating body, and operates within the framework of the Indigenous Peoples’ Constituency, which is the official observer channel through which Indigenous organizations participate in the UNFCCC, granting them access to sessions, side events, and the ability to submit statements.
The International Indigenous Youth Forum on Climate Change was established in 2023 as a working group of the IIPFCC, and held its first General Assembly at COP 29. Around 70 Indigenous youth from all seven socio-cultural regions3 took part. The Assembly focused on setting collective priorities, such as improved access to thematic training, intergenerational dialogue, and funding to support youth participation in the negotiations.
A key milestone came in 2015 with the adoption of the Paris Agreement, which acknowledged the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the importance of traditional knowledge systems in addressing climate change. The preamble specifically refers to the need to respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and affirms the relevance of traditional knowledge, knowledge of indigenous peoples, and local knowledge systems.
To support this recognition, the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) was established at COP 23 in 2017.4 It is the first formal mechanism under the UNFCCC with a mandate to include IPs and local communities in a structured and continuous manner. The Platform was created to strengthen the knowledge, technologies, practices, and efforts of local communities and IPs, in relation to addressing and responding to climate change; as well as to facilitate the exchange of experience and the sharing of best practices and lessons learned in a holistic and integrated manner. It also aims to enhance the engagement of both IPs and local communities in the UNFCCC process.
The LCIPP is further operationalized by the Facilitative Working Group (FWG), established in 2018. FWG membership comprises fourteen representatives, half of which are representatives from Indigenous Peoples organizations, and the other half of which are representatives of Parties (the addition of three representatives of local communities and three additional Party representatives is still under consideration). Indigenous representatives are nominated through a self-selection process, in line with the Platform's principles. The FWG is the first constituted body under the UNFCCC process that has dedicated seats for IP representatives. It plays a key role in shaping the workplan and ensuring collaborative implementation. At COP 29 in 2024, the FWG adopted its third three-year workplan.
Although formal participation opportunities have expanded, Indigenous Peoples as well as local communities continue to face challenges in relation to their participation in the UNFCCC process. These difficulties, such as travel support and accreditation, language barriers, and the technical complexity of negotiation tracks, limit their full and effective participation.
Ongoing advocacy by civil society as well as efforts by the UNFCCC secretariat, some Parties, and observer constituencies aim to enhance accessibility, strengthen capacity, and improve the transparency of processes. Addressing these issues is critical to ensure that IPs and local communities are not only able to attend sessions but can meaningfully engage in shaping decisions that affect them. IPs’ holistic worldviews and focus on intergenerational responsibility align with the long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement and support more just and inclusive approaches to climate action. Research consistently shows that Indigenous-managed lands sustain higher biodiversity and lower deforestation rates than other areas, directly contributing to climate change mitigation and ecosystem integrity.
Local communities also play a crucial role through their stewardship of natural resources and lived experience with climate impacts. Their practices in sustainable land management, risk reduction, and locally led adaptation offer critical insights that can enhance national and global responses to climate change. Both IPs and local communities bring complementary perspectives to climate ambition.
As the UNFCCC process evolves, it remains essential to ensure that IPs and local communities engage meaningfully and consistently. Mechanisms such as the LCIPP should inform broader thematic workstreams, and further attention should be given to support participation and reflect diverse knowledge systems in implementation. The full and effective participation of IPs and of local communities is vital to the long-term success of the Paris Agreement.
