Many small island, rural and indigenous peoples are already facing the first impacts of climate change.
Their high vulnerability relates to their reliance upon resource-based livelihoods and the locations and configurations
of their lands and territories.These communities however, are also key sources of knowledge and understanding on
climate change impacts, responses and adaptation.Climate Frontlines works to promote inclusion of
indigenous knowledge of climate change in relevant policy and action.

About Us

On the frontlines of climate change

Despite broad recognition that small island, Arctic, high altitude and other vulnerable communities are on the frontlines of climate change, their voices have remained largely on the sidelines of climate change debates. Indeed, this exclusion has generated discord and protests by indigenous peoples and community representatives at recent international conferences and meetings on climate change.
In response to this outcry, the grassroots Internet forum On the Frontlines of Climate Change was launched by UNESCO in 2009, in partnership with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), the Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issue (SPFII) and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR). Since then we have worked to deliver support for community research, create networks and partnerships in support of the inclusion of indigenous knowledge within climate change decision-making.
We look forward to your continuing interest and active participation in Climate Frontlines. We welcome questions and suggestions to improve the forum's relevance and outreach. Please send to:
peoples@climatefrontlines.org

Objectives

1. Improve understanding of how indigenous knowledge contributes to assessing the impacts of climate change at the local level;
2. Increase the inclusion of indigenous knowledge systems in climate change assessment and adaptation planning;
3. Enhance the participation of knowledge holders in climate change decision-making.