Minister Chaudhary pledges to prioritize indigenous issues in climate negotiations

Antalya (Türkiye), Nov 14: Minister for Agriculture, Forests, and Environment, Geeta Chaudhary, has pledged to strongly advocate for the protection of the rights, identity, culture, and ancestral territories of Indigenous communities affected by climate change. Noting that she attained her current position as a result of the movements and struggles for inclusion led by Indigenous communities, she reaffirmed her commitment to championing their concerns.

Indigenous activists and representatives participating in the discussion urged that the rights, culture, ancestral lands, and livelihoods of communities affected by climate change be prioritized within international climate negotiations and decision-making processes, including at COP-31. They pointed out that while the impacts of climate change are intensifying in the Himalayan region, the concerns of the Indigenous communities most severely affected have not been adequately raised on international platforms.