Indigenous communities across Australia are experiencing the effects of our changing climate, with changes in seasonal weather patterns, increasing temperatures, rising sea levels and changing water availability already impacting on Country and people.
The National First Peoples Platform on Climate Change (NFPPCC) is the continuation of a seven year collaboration between the NESP and First Peoples creating opportunities and taking on challenges that climate change presents on Country together.
A dialogue with First Peoples and Hub participants on Yorta Yorta Country in 2018 demonstrated an overwhelming interest by Australia’s First Peoples to better understand our changing climate and what the future holds. It also highlighted the importance of an ongoing dialogue and made clear that First Peoples want to set their own agenda on climate knowledge and action. It was agreed that an Indigenous led process was required to provide guidance and advice to the Hub on how this engagement could be led by First Peoples.
In 2021, the Hub supported the organisation and delivery of the National First Peoples Gathering on Climate Change on Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji and Yirraganydji Country (Cairns), to celebrate, learn from and enhance First Peoples-led climate change action.
Following this Gathering a Steering Committee was established, made up of 10 participants from across Australia who were endorsed by their communities to provide guidance and develop protocols, processes and tools that all project proponents both internally and externally to the Hub can use. This Steering Committee has evolved into the NFPPCC.
The 2018 dialogue also began the development of a statement on climate, which was further updated at the 2021 Gathering. It recognised that scientific and traditional knowledge demanded immediate action against the threats of climate change.
“First Nations people of Australia contribute the least to climate change, yet the impacts of climate change are affecting us most severely,” the 2021 statement said.
“When Country is healthy, we are healthy. Our knowledge systems are interconnected with our environment and it relies on the health of Country. This knowledge is held by our Elders and passed on to the next generation. Solutions to climate change can be found in the landscapes and within our knowledge systems.”
The Statement called for the Federal Government to financially support an annual First Nations-led dialogue on climate change.
The NFPPCC and NESP Climate Systems Hub in partnership with the Tubba-Gah (maing) Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation are pleased to announce the third National First Peoples Gathering on Climate Change.
The Gathering will take place on Tubba-Gah Country, Dubbo, 14-18 October 2024.
The third Gathering builds on the 2018 dialogue and the 2021 Gathering providing a space for First Peoples to lead a national dialogue about climate change.
Samarla Deshong (Qld) and Glen Wingfield (SA)
NFPPCC Steering Committee members – Damian Morgan-Bulled (Vic), Djarra Delaney (Youth member), Hilda Mosby (Torres Strait Islands), Learna Langworthy (lutruwita/Tas), Kabay Tamu (Torres Strait Islands) and Jason Wilson (NSW).
NESP Climate Systems Hub – Amelia Tandy, Mandy Hopkins and Rowena Bullio (Indigenous Partnerships team)
Read more in the latest e-newsletter.
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