Saami Council at COP29

Saami Council participated at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan during its first week 11. - 16. November.

The Saami Council delegation consisted of President Per-Olof Nutti, Head of the Environment and Arctic Unit Gunn-Britt Retter, and Advocacy Program participants Janne Hirvasvuopio and Per-Henning Mathisen.

President of the Saami Council, Per-Olof Nutti, during COP29. Photo: the Saami Council

The delegation began by participating in the two-day preparatory meeting of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), where Indigenous Peoples collectively discussed shared priorities for the upcoming negotiations, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the full recognition of Indigenous Peoples' leadership in effective climate action. Throughout the rest of the week, the Saami Council delegation also participated in various meetings, negotiations and side events on the conference agenda, such as the “Multi stakeholder Dialogue”, where the President of the Saami Council and nominated Knowledge Holder Per Olof Nutti gave an intervention, as well as at the “Annual Gathering of Knowledge Holders”, both mandated events by the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP). President Per Olof underscored the need for adaptation strategies that are locally tailored and developed in partnership with Indigenous Peoples - key to fostering resilient communities. Janne highlighted the link between climate justice and the mental health issues faced by Indigenous youth.

“As stewards of the land, partnership with the Indigenous Peoples in development of national, regional, and local policies and legislation is fundamental to effective climate action” - Per Olof Nutti, president of the Saami Council

In the last 50 years, the Arctic region has warmed 3-4 times the global average. Climate change is having profound impacts on Sápmi, causing severe disruptions affecting our ecosystems, livelihoods and economies. Indigenous Peoples possess crucial knowledge, innovations, and technologies to address the climate crisis through  sustainable practices rooted in a deep understanding and management of nature and the environment. At the same time, costs are rising for adaptation, also related to loss and damage caused by governments response measures, or efforts for climate mitigation, but Indigenous Peoples hardly receive any direct support from climate finance. The “green transition” and continued colonial practices in combination with climate change is adversely affecting Arctic ecosystems and thereby our human rights and rights as Indigenous Peoples.

The Saami Council´s participation in the UNFCCC and during COP29 aims, among other things, to ensure that Parties to the Convention take immediate and decisive action to address the full extent of this crisis impacting our homeland, meaning that Parties must commit to strengthen their ambitions and commitments and communicate targets that reflect the urgency of action and implementation in keeping global warming to 1.5°C, with no or limited overshoot. In addition, Saami Council is part of the global advocacy of Indigenous Peoples ensuring that all relevant mechanisms, programmes, workstreams and facilities within the UNFCCC must respect and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, as foundational requirements for all climate actions, policies, and decisions.

While COP29 is starting its second week, Saami Council underlines that climate policies, and decisions at all levels must ensure the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples through human rights-based approaches. This is essential for developing effective and just climate action on our lands and territories that allow for our leadership in identifying, prioritising, implementing, and monitoring climate solutions based on our needs.