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The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted by 189 governments in 1995, emphasized the importance of integrating women, especially rural and Indigenous women, into environmental management and decision-making. Thirty years later, this call to action remains unfulfilled and urgent.
There are some innovative community-led renewal energy initiatives to learn from, says Halip.
She recalls an initiative from Malaysia, where an Indigenous Peoples-led organization, Tonibung, manufactures its own turbines from recycled materials that convert the energy from flowing water into electricity. By using recycled materials, Tonibung makes these systems more affordable and sustainable, while empowering Indigenous communities to generate their own clean energy and reduce reliance on external sources.
“Now that they have access to electricity, they can sustain their daily needs and traditional livelihoods,” says Halip.
For Indigenous communities in Philippines and worldwide, participation in such projects with their free, prior, and informed consent is essential, particularly when these projects impact their communities, territories and livelihoods. Moreover, as the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report highlighted, such inclusive planning and implementation informed by Indigenous knowledge and cultural values can help address climate adaptation gaps and avoid maladaptation.
According to Halip, the challenge lies in the lack of enabling policies and mechanisms that would ensure direct and meaningful engagement of Indigenous Peoples in national or local projects.
“For example, in developing national action plans on climate change and biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples from the community level often do not have the opportunity to engage directly,” she points out. The lack of opportunities for meaningful engagement is even more pronounced for Indigenous women, youth and persons living with disabilities.
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