UNESCO Caribbean Resilience Workshop Addresses Climate Impacts and Vulnerabilities
Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry
Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry

– touts indigenous and local knowledge to address impact of climate change.

THE conclusion of a Caribbean Resilience Workshop hosted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was observed on Thursday, which was held under the theme, “Mobilising Indigenous and Local Knowledge Solutions: Addressing Climate Impacts and Vulnerabilities.”

The three-day exercise, which corresponded with this year’s Indigenous Heritage Month’s theme, “Maintaining traditional practices while promoting a green economy,” ended at the Pegasus Hotel with a ceremony.

The workshop provided a platform for a Caribbean-wide outline of how indigenous and local knowledge are used to address the impacts of climate change.

Chief Rapporteur of the event, Max Ooft

Giving an overview of the workshop was Chief Rapporteur of the event, Max Ooft, who said that the workshop focused on themes such as livelihoods of indigenous peoples and local communities of the Caribbean; observing and understanding impacts of climate change, including extreme events and mobilizing indigenous and local knowledge in Caribbean climate change adaptation, amongst others.

Ooft said that due to the direct relationship the indigenous peoples have with “mother nature,” traditional knowledge has been developed and enriched over the course of many centuries and is rooted in direct observations, analysis, trial, error, cultural and spiritual beliefs and practices.

“It is a knowledge system that is in many ways different from the mainstream scientific hydrological metrological systems that are used to understand weather and climate patterns but it has been realized and recognised that these traditional knowledge systems help many indigenous people and local communities around the world,” he explained.
Giving remarks at the event was Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, who pointed out that in Guyana, educational and economic developments, amongst other developments, are ongoing within indigenous communities, which are synergistic efforts to build the capacities of the indigenous population.

She also highlighted another noble effort of the government which is the expansion of its Green State Development Strategy that links the challenges of Climate Impacts to the potential environmental solutions.

Petty Oti-Boateng, Director of the Division of Science at UNESCO

According to the Minister of Education, the strategies and measures adumbrated in the Green State Development Strategy have been examined for infusion into the new school curriculum being developed by the Ministry of Education in Guyana.
She said, “As Minister of Education, I also see the need to begin educating our children in the school system, ensuring that they are fully acquainted with the issue of climatic change and its effects.”

The Minister of Education also made a clarion call for all nations of the Caribbean and Latin American to respect native and indigenous peoples from across the world who are involved in studying weather patterns and seeking to find additional solutions to ensure mankind is not at conflict with the environment.

Petty Oti-Boateng, Director of the Division of Science at UNESCO, said that the workshop was the first of its kind to be held in the Caribbean and marks a fair commitment by UNESCO to be with the Caribbean in tough times.

Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Raphael Trotman

“In these troubled times, seeking solutions, bringing experts together and ensuring all-inclusive and human right-based approach is how we mobilize knowledge, intellect and human and financial resources to secure the safest and the most secure future for all of us, with particular attention to vulnerability of Small Islands Developing States,” she noted.
Oti-Boateng noted that UNESCO has been engaged in projects in capacity-building with coastal and small islands for over 30 years.

“UNESCO Member States developed the UNESCO 6 Action Plan that runs from 2016 to 2021, which sets out a roadmap for UNESCO on delivering programme priorities that helps strengthen the resilience and capacity of states,” she explained.

Highlighting the actions that the Government of Guyana is taking to promote a green nation was the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.

The actions he disclosed includes the development of a National System of Protected Areas, promotion of a National Mangrove Tree Planting Programme to reduce the vulnerability of our coastal areas to rising sea levels; and the development of an internationally recognized Forest Monitoring, Reporting and Verification programme, among others.

“At the community level, our government is working with our indigenous brothers and sisters and forest-dependent communities to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD). The REDD Programme builds on the direct knowledge and involvement of our indigenous peoples and forest-dependent communities,” he noted.
According toTrotman, the programme addresses issues of maintaining and enhancing carbon stock, carbon rights and ownership, and promoting markets for carbon trade.
Also present at the event was Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Hon. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, and community leaders from over 16 countries including from Europe, Africa and leaders from countries in Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Over the next fifteen years, with the 17 Goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

UNESCO seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO’s programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015.

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