Mainstreaming Indigenous Knowledge to Address Climate Injustice

Climate justice cannot be addressed without empowering Indigenous Peoples, whose knowledge on mitigation and adaptation can go a long way in coping with the climate emergency. However, Indigenous Peoples are often at the receiving end of climate change as many are forced to live in the most vulnerable areas and lack basic resources to cope with impacts. Ironically, these communities possess indigenous knowledge needed to adapt to local environmental conditions that are based on sensitive understanding of the local context and their accumulated experience over generations. However, their knowledge is often overlooked and condemned compared to scientific knowledge. This chapter will investigate the underlying reasons for the loss of indigenous knowledge systems, particularly those that are linked with vulnerabilities of Indigenous Peoples, who are the bearers of this knowledge. It will also address the existing gaps in international policies on climate change, environmental and human rights that often do not recognize the rights of indigenous knowledge holders for the important role their knowledge plays and can potentially play in addressing climate mitigation and adaptation. The chapter will conclude by outlining the strategies for rediscovering the indigenous knowledge systems for climate mitigation and adaptation and utilizing them effectively for addressing climate risks through effectively linking them with scientific knowledge and strengthening the enabling systems for a more active engagement of indigenous knowledge holders in climate action.