Australia shamed at climate conference as it sidelines indigenous rights.
Australian negotiators at the UN Climate Conference have supported the removal of indigenous rights from deforestation negotiations, throwing into doubt election promises on indigenous rights and climate change.
“There has been uproar over this decision at the conference,” said Josh Wyndham-Kidd, an Australian Youth Delegate from Sydney who represents the Delegation on forest issues. “I’m shocked to see this progressive, inclusive idea shot down by the government that opened Parliament this year with the apology to the Stolen Generations.”
Australia, along with New Zealand, Canada and the United States, today supported the removal of all references to ‘rights’ and to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples from negotiation text on deforestation in developing countries (the REDD proposals).
“Labor promised before the election to ratify the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Now their negotiators here are trying to erase any mention of it from negotiations that will affect First Peoples worldwide. It’s a breathtaking breach of trust,” said Mr Wyndham-Kidd.
The Australian Youth Delegation can exclusively reveal that the inclusion of indigenous rights in the text was originally supported by a broad coalition of nations, spanning the developed and developing worlds, from Norway to Gabon.
“The Rudd government resembles the Howard government more and more at this conference,” he said. “The Australian government seems to have deserted our small island neighbours here who want progress, and returned to their old mates in the slow lane – first on carbon targets, and now on the rights of the world’s first peoples.”
Australia was also awarded a Fossil of the Day for their stance on indigenous rights, proving that the world is watching our government. The Fossil prize is given out each day for the most obstructive governments at the conference.
“Today’s negotiations show that Australia is slipping back into its old habits of obstruction and low commitment. The government still hasn’t proven that they are serious about their promises to lead the world in this effort. They need to commit to carbon pollution reductions of 25-40% by 2020, right now, and they need to give the First Peoples of developing nations the chance to decide the future of their forests,” he said.
