Climate change and planet-warming are the much-spoken issues nowadays, as they cause drastic changes on the Earth. The majority of countries exploit natural resources while producing oil, piles, and other non-recyclable products. The level of carbon dioxide has reached its maximum point increasing the level of water in oceans. COP 26 (UN Climate Change Conference) highlighted these significant matters to raise concerns and find reasonable solutions in order to cut the number of fossil fuels produced and take more endeavors to save this planet. During this conference, the representatives of indigenous tribes and communities were heard out as they suffered most of all from negative environmental changes.
COP 26 is the best opportunity to stress out environmental-related issues that need off-hand resolutions to shield the Earth from people’s severe interventions. While this conference was held most indigenous people expressed apprehensions and standpoints. Being the conventional knowledge holders, they presented their distinctive visions and roles, urging nations to reassess their attitude to the planet. Paradoxically, these individuals create less harm to the globe as they are the zealous supporters of ancestral philosophy dedicated to the careful attitude of all living beings existing on the planet. Taking care of the world, they become the witness of the vigilant and lax people’s exploitation of natural resources and they suffer from significant water increase; they cannot find any sources of protection. Not all representatives of indigenous communities managed to participate in the conference due to the pandemic situations. Still, those who attended this event spoke out to attract the attention of environmental envoys, saying that they were deceived by them several times.
While state leaders pledge to curtail heating and reduce the production of dangerous fuels, indigenous individuals are in peril and most animals and species are endangered. There are a lot of standpoints that were considered during the COP 26 event, and all of them were distinctive. Ancestral people offered to reconsider the environmental-related policy claiming for reforestation and production of biofuels that might minimize the devastating effect human beings cause to the globe. For them, it was unheard-of to observe the ways rivers and their inhabitants were dying in front of their eyes and see the way chemicals and fouls were polluting their lakes (Barret, 2021). In their perspective, they had to have a place at the table to be heard out as they needed protection as well as animals and plants growing in the Amazon districts. For years, they have been putting in their best efforts to participate in this conference, but superior nations have neglected them due to the colonial world order (Ortiz, 2021). It was high time to raise concerns about these matters and take part in the negotiations presenting people whose rights were not violated anymore.
During the conference, it was clear that indigenous environmental defenders have a particular stake in the outcomes of climate change global negotiations. At first, they stated that approximately one thousand defenders were murdered during the Paris rallies when they stood up against enemies imposing contagious and harmful impacts on the Earth (Ford Foundation, 2021). This notion proved the fact that their perspectives and visions were to be considered and respected. For centuries, they have struggled with political leaders who have just paid lip service to them using their natural resources for their abundance and prosperity (Greenpeace International, 2021). The next thing that was worth considering was implementing the net-zero targets to reduce the amount of gas and carbon dioxide emissions entailing the planet-warming progressing at the “neck-breaking” speed. All these controversial issues contribute to the development of disastrous climate-related crises and the extinction of endangered species (Lakhani, 2021). These tribes had been historically excluded from the negotiations, and they wanted significant superior nations to reconsider the management of their ancestral legacy. They asked for their rights to be recognized, as they have become witnesses of the ravaging deforestation of their lands and severe wildfires.
As mentioned above, environmental defenders asked for a total reassessment of the framework dealing with natural resource exploitation. It stands to reason that their demands and concerns were not specific, as they try to protect the planet and invoke other people to do it. Being political outcasts, they claim for collaborative work and cooperation with nations that have been successful in innovations and technologies able to devise means to protect the Earth (BBC News, 2021). Being struck by extreme disasters, they asked for help and assistance from industrialized nations. As environmental crises intensified, indigenous communities managed to survive against peculiar odds of stark life, and they pleaded to be heard and shielded.
It goes without saying that the planet is in a devastating position and in need of protection on its residents’ behalf. Human beings who try to save virgin places and remain them innate ask international leaders for a helping hand. There is a great rate of floods, drought, and other climatic crises transpiring in the Amazon forests; people are near starvation and extinction. The COP 26 conference was a chance for climate defenders to attract other people’s attention regarding environmental protection.
References
Barret, G. COP 26: Indigenous people, protests, and a call to end the war on nature. UN News. Web.
BBC News. COP 26: Indigenous climate activist tells delegates, ‘We have no more time. BBC News. Web.
Ford Foundation. This alliance of indigenous people brings climate solutions to COP26. Ford Foundation. Web.
Greenpeace International. Environmental, Indigenous & human rights groups slam net-zero ‘smoke and mirrors’ at COP26. Greenpeace International. Web.
Lakhani, N. A continuation of colonialism’: indigenous activists say their voices are missing at Cop26. The Guardian. Web.
Ortiz, E. At U.U.’s COP 26 climate summit, indigenous voices are calling for more than lip service. NBC News. Web.