On this day as people, nations and governments join hands in commemorating the World Environment Day; we are reminded of the profound need to recognize the sacredness of our environment and to realize how we as a human race are so dependent on them for our continued existence. Over the years, progression of scientific evidence and the overwhelming conditions of our environment has ensured that issues of climate change occupies the center-stage of the highest decision making summits the world over.
This has led to placing important issues of climate change in the hands of political leaders and governments, which has opened up possibilities for more responsive and positive ways of addressing the predicament, while also exposing the possibilities for them to politicize the issue for their own interest and benefit. In the hierarchy of power systems this usually means the continued desolation of developing countries, and the exploitation of indigenous communities.
The more the issues of climate change occupies the arena of global power politics, the more we find that state pragmatism prevails over the interest and needs of the people. Consequently we find such practices of power-politics to be most destructive in protecting our environment and making progress in our response to climate change. In this matter we find that indigenous communities are most affected. With the growing demand for raw material; governments and corporations are increasingly turning their attention to the rich natural resources of indigenous peoples.
In the end, it’s usually the indigenous communities that bear the brunt of climate change. With little or no political power, the voices of indigenous communities are rarely heard; and considering that most of the present natural resources are under the ownership of indigenous communities, it could have drastic consequences. There is therefore an imperative need for indigenous people to find alternatives and to enter into critical solidarity with other indigenous communities, so that the political power of indigenous societies is strengthened.
In more recent years, there has been a lot of focus on the northeast for its natural resources. Unless the diverse political communities in the northeast are aware and empowered sufficiently, it will only be a matter of time before it loses its ownership over its natural resources. It is essential that local communities are strengthened and empowered to utilize its resources wisely and efficiently on its own terms, and if necessarily entering into agreements and partnership based on the interest and needs of the people, while retaining the right of ownership to land and resources.
Since the local communities are the inhabitants of the area, it is they who will have to bear and live with the consequences of decisions that have been made. For this reason, it is of the essence to ensure that local communities are at the forefront on issues of climate change and considering the importance of their contribution, it is vital that their needs and interest and not bypassed by the politicization of climate change by world leaders. As the World Environment Day is commemorate, issues of local ownership of resource must be at the forefront of the initiative. The issues of climate change cannot be held ransom to State interest.
