Dimapur| December 23 : In the growing global climate crisis, indigenous communities have felt the most adverse affects of climate change. Climate change is threatening indigenous livelihoods, culture and economy more than people of any other regions in the world. In the imperative need to address the issue, indigenous communities across the world were looking at Copenhagen climate summit to provide a solution to their problems. But the summit has left these communities cold. The response to the reality of climate change failed to include the voices of global indigenous communities, including Nagaland.
Taking across the crucial message of climate change affecting indigenous communities in Nagaland, is North East Network (NEN), Chizami, under Phek district.
Based on a comprehensive study conducted by NEN in six villages of Phek district, a community charter of demands was presented at the Copenhagen climate summit. But like many other communities, it failed to make it to the negotiating centre. The demand charter was presented under the aegis of Peoples’ Coalition for Climate Change- a conglomeration of grass-root civil society organizations in India carrying the voice of adivasis, forest people, dalits, fishers and pastoralists. Disappointed but not deterred, NEN is pushing beyond Copenhagen. The next summit will take place in Mexico and NEN is already making efforts to get there.
Back home, NEN is already succeeding where the government has so spectacularly failed. NEN’s study was based on a participatory exercise with different communities. The process included twenty communities in Phek district living in different eco-systems. The exercise also included children. The study shows similar kind of changes in weather pattern across the entire region and the affects are adverse. Indigenous Naga communities are being driven by the constant threat of global climate change, whereas, NEN found that Nagaland has enough resources of its own to address the issue. NEN says that Nagaland government must recognize the kind of strength the state has, and invest in efficient technologies. With the government’s move to increase growth through technology, the effect is directly impacting the indigenous communities, NEN findings suggests. At this speed, the long term effects are going to be hazardous.

The Peoples’ Coalition on Climate Change community charter of demands at the Copenhagen climate summit:

1)    demands for recognition of the diversity and integrity of farms, livestock, forest and seas as civilization assets
2)    Endorsing multifunctional, ecological and diverse agriculture as a defence against climate change
3)    Promoting traditional seeds
4)    Focus on afforestation policies, encourage local plant species
5)    Prevention of unreasonable extraction of ground water and promote local methods of water conservation
6)    Respect and recognize pastoralism
7)    Respect and recognize traditional fishers
8)    Adopt measures to reverse negative environment impacts of development schemes, seek prior and informed consent from communities
9)    Make government policies people-centric
10) Honour each members of community as frontline warriors against climate change

Morung Express News

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