Yukon First Nations at the UN Climate Change Conference

Wednesday, 11 December 2019 15:12

Yukon First Nation’s leadership has had a strong presence at the 25th Conference of Parties (COP25), also known as the United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Madrid, Spain.

The Assembly of First Nations Yukon has sent Regional Chief Kluane Adamek to the conference in Spain, and she has been in Madrid since Dec 9th. According to releases from AFN Yukon, attendees have had the chance to connect with indigenous peoples from across the globe and hear from climate change leaders. Adamek has also met with Canadian, Métis and Inuit leadership and was present for Canada’s statement on climate action, as well as participating in an Indigenous Caucus at the conference.

Other Yukoners in attendance include Vuntut Gwich’in Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm and Deputy Grand Chief of the Vuntut Gwich’in Jordan Peterson who are in Madrid from December 2nd until the 19th. The two are presenting and hosting a side session at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain today. Tizya-Tramm and Peterson are hosting a session titled “The Porcupine Caribou Herd: Protecting the Beating Heart of Arctic Ecosystems and Indigenous Peoples”.

The conference incorporates several events including the Conference of Parties, the 15^th meeting of the Kyoto Protocol and the second meeting of the parties for the Paris Agreement. The conference has featured negotiations relating to the Paris Climate Accord and a variety of speakers, including Time Person of the Year, Greta Thunberg.

However, the event has not been without its critics. Protestors have been a consistent sight at the event and security’s reaction has not been positive. According to a release by the Assembly of First Nations a group of Indigenous Youth, including many from Canada, have been arbitrarily detained for a peaceful protest at the 25^th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain. The AFN is condemning the abuse of power and standing in solidarity with the detained youth. According to the release they have also raised the issue with the Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jon Wilkinson and Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Philippe Champagne.

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