The disproportionate impacts of climate change on Indigenous peoples and communities need to be addressed at the UN.

AYCC’s Indigenous Delegates work with other young Indigenous leaders from across the globe.

They are committed to ensuring world leaders hear and act upon the call for inter-generational equity for young and future generations of Indigenous Australians.

For the last two years, two young Indigenous people have attended the UN climate talks in both Copenhagen and Cancun. This year, with the support of World Vision Australian, our Indigenous Delegation has expanded to three!

Our Indigenous Delegates work with both the youth and broader Indigenous constituencies. They have taken active and prominent roles within the UN climate talks, including: meeting with and influencing Australian negotiators; tracing policy development; representing global Indigenous youth in the media; and writing and delivering important interventions on behalf of the world’s Indigenous peoples at the UN.

Our Indigenous delegations successes include:

• Organising, for the first time, a negotiation between the International Indigenous caucus and the Australian Government, discussing the impacts of agreements on domestic and international Indigenous communities.
• Developed and delivered the closing plenary of COP16 on Indigenous concerns in Cancun.
• Delivered presentations (interventions) on the use of Indigenous traditional knowledge in climate change mitigation and adaption efforts.
• Participated in negotiations about the full and effective participation of Indigenous peoples in UNFCCC meetings.

Project Partner:

AYCC International would like to thank its partner, World Vision Australia. Without their their generous support, our Indigenous delegation would not be possible. World Vision is committed to improving the lives of Indigenous peoples and communities and address climate change.
 

The Durban 2011 team:

Indigenous Youth Delegation Director: Sheena Watt
Sheena Watt is the Indigenous Youth Delegation Director for AYCC International this year. Sheena began volunteering with the AYCC through the National Indigenous Youth Movement of Australia and has spent the last three years researching and advocating policy development in Australia and internationally. Sheena is a passionate about the disproportionate impacts of climate change on the world’s 350 million Indigenous people. Sheena also engages with Indigenous communities with the National Indigenous Climate Change Coalition with whom she is a member.

Indigenous Youth Delegate: Braden Hill
Braden Hill is an Indigenous Youth Delegate for AYCC International this year. Braden is a young Indigenous academic and activist from Perth, Western Australia. He has been involved with the AYCC since 2009 and represented young Indigenous Australians at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen. Braden is passionate about developing a consciousness around the impact of climate change in Indigenous communities.

Indigenous Youth Delegate: Abbey Ramirez-Shillingford
Abbey Ramirez-Shillingford is an Indigenous Youth Delegate for AYCC International this year. Abbey is currently a Native Title Lawyer for Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation in South Hedland. She is a proud young Ngarluma women from Roebourne, Pilbara Western Australia with strong ties to the Kimberly. Abbey is also a mentor and is involved in community development and a range of social justice issues. Abbey is committed to raising the international profile of the Australian Indigenous community in the climate debate