imcsap.org – Climate change affects health’s social and environmental determinants – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter. It has an impact also to all communities, as well the Indigenous people. Still, as we know, the Indigenous People have tried to foster and maintain their relationship with the natural world, the connection to the land and other creatures. In 2023, we celebrated the 75th World Health Day and Earth Day. In alignment with that, at the same time with the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) Twenty-Second Session, IMCS Pax Romana Asia Pacific with the Working Commissions (Advocacy & Campaign Commission, Laudato Si Commission, Indigenous People’s Youth Commission) conducted a series of the session to talk about human health, climate change and the response of Indigenous People with the theme “Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health and climate change: a rights-based approach” on 16th and 23rd at 8 PM-9.30 PM KL/MNL/HK Time. 

The objectives of this webinar series were: 

1. To introduce the climate change risks to public health. 
2. To spotlight the importance of protecting the environment for public health.
3. To encourage and inspire more young people to participate in the climate change issues that affect human health. 

Series 1: 16th April 

The webinar series-1 talked about the climate change risks to human health and indigenous people: mainstreaming climate solutions. It aimed to introduce the dangers of climate change to public health and the human body. Ms Clare Westwood, in her speech, shared about the impact of climate change, especially on the water and human body health. At the same time, Mrs Anne Lasimbang, in her speech, spotlighted the important role of indigenous communities in mainstreaming climate solutions. She shared Climate & Environmental Issues, extreme weather, environmental pollution, and the impact on Children & Communities (Island, Sea Shore, Mountain, and Interior). This worldview is accumulated through generations by indigenous communities through observation, practice, and reflection. This wisdom, specific to a location or territory, has guided indigenous communities to live harmoniously with nature and ensured their survival. 

Indigenous communities depend on their surrounding environment for food, water, survival, culture and identity; how Indigenous Peoples approach Addressing Climate and Environmental Issues based on her tribe and some experiences with Indigenous communities. In the end, she recommended What is needed to scale up these successful solutions by documentation on highlighting and promoting Indigenous peoples-led solutions and contributions. Others need to understand, value and appreciate indigenous wisdom and consequently want to internalize its principles, concepts and practices, albeit in their ways. Having genuine community involvement, especially in grassroots, country or international programmes. Lastly, the recognition, advocacy & support of IP systems and knowledge – funding and inclusion into policies

Series 2: 23rd April

The webinar series-2 was successful conducted. The speakers were shared about the perspective of youth about transformative action to build awareness of the climate change. First speaker, Ms. Alab, the national coordinator of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP) highlighted five points in her speech, such as Climate Justice, Urgency of Climate Action, Defend our Environmental Defenders, Youth-led Collective Action, and System Change. Elaborating the climate justice and urgency for youth to take an action. Not only climate change, but we need system change. It is necessary and a huge thing that we must change in the society. 

While, at the other way, Ms. Titi Ghale from IMCS Nepal, the member of Pax Romana Jurists commission and also as a young indigenous people, she highlighted the relation between climate justice and indigenous youth by presenting the current scenario such as climate change, paris convention neglected, increase in sea level, melting of ice and snow, untimely seasonal change, crop production reduced, soil degradation, drought, and poverty. All is happening now in the society and faced by the indigenous communities as well. She encouraged the youth to do action started from their communities like planting, use the eco-friendly kit, until being connect to the indigenous spirituality. *