The Important Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Global Climate Governance

For Inuit communities, shifts in sea ice conditions are affecting hunting traditions. Hunters now travel at greater risk to find traditional foods. “The melting permafrost is also causing our homes to sink,” noted an Inuk youth participant, underscoring the urgent need for climate adaptation strategies tailored to Indigenous realities.

Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic rely on reindeer herding, fishing, hunting and gathering practices that are becoming increasingly challenging due to climate change.

The Arctic plays a crucial role in global climate stability. Its ice and permafrost store massive amounts of carbon, and its ocean currents regulate global weather patterns. The melting of Arctic ice contributes to rising sea levels and altered ocean circulation, impacting ecosystems and communities worldwide. Participants stressed that protecting the Arctic is not just about safeguarding Indigenous Peoples' cultures—it is essential for global climate stability.

Indigenous Knowledge Holders provided firsthand testimonies of climate impacts. One Inuit participant shared that traditional weather forecasting, vital for hunting and navigation, is now unreliable due to rapid environmental changes. “My father’s knowledge of predicting weather no longer works,” he explained. “The ice we depend on is disappearing, forcing polar bears into our communities and making it dangerous for us to travel.”

Beyond climate change, Arctic Indigenous Peoples face additional pressures from industrial development. Plans for wind power industry, mining, and increased shipping threaten traditional land use and disrupt sensitive ecosystems. Participants at the gathering emphasized that climate action cannot come at the expense of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and cultural survival. “We cannot replace one environmental crisis with another,” one Sámi leader asserted. “A just transition must respect Indigenous Peoples’ land rights and self-determination.”

Utilizing Indigenous Knowledge into Climate Policies

The gathering reaffirmed that Indigenous Knowledge must be recognized and utilized as a vital tool for climate adaptation and mitigation. Arctic Indigenous Peoples have developed intricate knowledge systems based on generations of close observation of environmental patterns. These knowledge systems offer solutions for ecosystem management, sustainable resource use and resilience-building.

Participants called for meaningful utilization of Indigenous Knowledge in global climate governance. The LCIPP’s engagement with the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage and the Katowice Committee of Experts highlights ongoing efforts to integrate Indigenous Peoples' perspectives into climate policy frameworks. However, Indigenous Peoples at the Arctic Regional Gathering stressed that participation must be more than symbolic; it must translate into tangible policy changes and direct funding for Indigenous-led climate solutions.

The Arctic Regional Gathering concluded with a strong foundation for urgent climate action. Participants emphasized the need for governments and international bodies to recognize the Arctic as a vulnerable ecosystem that’s critical to global climate stability. They stressed the importance of fully utilizing Indigenous Knowledge in climate policies and decision-making processes to ensure that these strategies reflect the lived experiences and expertise of Indigenous Peoples.

Ensuring the participation of Indigenous Peoples in climate governance at all levels is vital for equitable and effective policymaking. Participants also highlighted the disproportionate climate burdens faced by Arctic Indigenous Peoples and called for immediate measures to address these inequities. Direct, ongoing and accessible climate finance is necessary to support adaptation and mitigation efforts led by Indigenous Peoples, enabling communities to take proactive steps toward climate resilience.

Arctic Indigenous Knowledge Holders made it clear: the wellbeing of their communities is intertwined with the health of the Arctic environment. As climate change accelerates, the world must listen to those who have stewarded these lands for millennia. The knowledge, perspectives and rights of Indigenous Peoples must be at the heart of climate solutions—not as an afterthought, but as a guiding principle for a sustainable future.