INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
CHALLENGES IN EAST AFRICA WITH
A FOCUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND
ITS IMPACTS
By Elifuraha I. Laltaika (LL.M in
Environmental Law)
Executive Director,
Association for Law and Advocacy for
Pastoralists (ALAPA)
Arusha, Tanzania
alapapastoralists2010@gmail.com
WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?
 Climate change refers to any change in
climate over time. This change can be a
result of natural variability or human
activity (anthropogenic causes).
 On its part, the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) puts more emphasis
on human activities which cause climate
change.
 However, changes in the world’s climate
are not new.
 The climate change we are experiencing
now is brought by humanity’s massive
dependence on fuels, particularly
carbon-based fuels, such as coal, oil,
and natural gas. These fuels bring about
greenhouse gas emissions.
 It is therefore reasonable to say that
climate change has largely been caused
by the industrialized countries.
 As will be seen however, poor countries
are hardest hit.
 Climate change constitutes one of the
most serious challenges of the 21st
century. The international community is
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSES TO
CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)
- This was formed in 1988 by the WMO and
the UNEP and tasked to provide scientific
information on climate change.
• The UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC)
– This is a Multilateral Environmental
Agreement (MEA) which was adopted
during the Earth Summit which was held
in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in l992. It
– The UNFCCC sets an overall framework for
intergovernmental efforts to tackle the
challenge posed by climate change.
– The main decision making body is the COP
– Indigenous Peoples (Africans inclusive) have
consistently been attending the COPs with
the view to lobbying for the inclusion of
safeguards on various text that are
negotiated.
– Many adaptation and mitigation measures
that are discussed and adopted pose more
threat to indigenous peoples’ livelihoods.
International Responses
(continued)
• Kyoto Protocol
• The KP is an international agreement that
is linked to the existing UNFCCC, but
standing on its own.
• It has the same objectives and institutions
as the UNFCCC.
• The Convention encourages developed
countries to stabilize GHG emissions but
the Protocol commits them to do so.
• Re: Emission Trading and Clean
Development Mechanisms
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
• Indigenous Peoples have contributed the
least in causing climate Change
• It has been caused by those who benefit
more from unsustainable economic model
• Indigenous Peoples suffer the most due to
their vulnerability, and inability to respond
in terms of technology.
• Impacts are varied depending on where
indigenous peoples live. In East Africa
Prolonged drought is the most notable
impact.
As a result of
prolonged droughts
indigenous peoples in
East Africa now live
under abject poverty
and this is likely to
plunge them into
contemporary forms
of slavery.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF REDD TO
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (AND OTHER
FOREST DEPENDENT COMMINITIES)
• Stands for Reduced Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation in
Developing Countries.
• It is viewed as a panacea of problems,
especially the economic ones.
• Governments are tempted to nationalize
community forests to become recipients of
funds.
• REDD is likely to be a problem than a
solution unless human rights safeguards are
put in place.
• REDD can lead to evictions and land
grabbing. Other problems that are likely to
happen include:
• REDD funds can be used to reinforce the
unequal status quo in forest politics at the
international, local and national level
• The use of REDD money to equip forest
protection agencies to conduct anti-people
“guns and guards” approach to forest
protection.
• Supporting unjust and outdated models of
forest protection that will unequally target
indigenous peoples, and other traditional
forest dependent communities.
• Overzealous consideration of the “the carbon
factor” and ignore other benefits of forests such
as biodiversity conservation.
RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND
THEIR DEMANDS IN REDD+
NEGOTIATIONS
• Negotiations on how REDD+ will operate are
on going. However, Pilot schemes and
REDD+ Preparations are taking place
through different funding mechanisms
• Funding mechanisms include Forest Carbon
Partnership Facility of the World Bank
(FCPF), UNREDD and Bilateral agreements
mainly involving the Government of Norway.
• Indigenous peoples want the UNDRIP to be
the guiding document in the designing and
implementation of REDD+ projects.
• Relevant articles include, 10 and 26.
• Article 10 “Indigenous peoples shall not be
forcibly removed from their lands or
territories. No relocation shall take place
without the Free, Prior and Informed
Consent of the Indigenous Peoples
concerned and after agreement on just and
fair compensation, and where possible, with
the option of return.”
• Article 26 “ Indigenous peoples have the
rights to the lands, territories and resources
which they have traditionally owned,
occupied or otherwise used or acquired…..”
CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Indigenous peoples of Africa should keep
an eye on the evolution and development
of REDD+
• Indigenous peoples of Africa should
campaign for the Ratification of ILO 169
which is the most comprehensive and
binding protection for indigenous peoples
• Useful websites for further information on
REDD+ www.debtebba.org; www.unredd.org ; www.wmo.int ; www.unep.org
and www.redd-monitor.org
ASANTENI SANA
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
MUCHAS GRACIAS
MERCI BEAUCOUP