ILC went to each Rio Convention COP this year with two main missions. We went to advocate for our members’ rights to land, territories, and natural resources, and to solidify the role of Indigenous Peoples, smallholder and family farmers, pastoralists and local communities roles as critical allies in the fight to address the climate, biodiversity and land degradation crises.
After supporting dozens of members, holding more than 39 side events, and engaging with key stakeholders, these are our key takeaways for future action.
CBD COP16
Our takeaway:
The CBD is on the right track to ensure land rights are respected in biodiversity frameworks/instruments.
Programme of Work and establishment of Subsidiary Body 8(j) strengthens Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities' voices
What happened?: The COP adopted a New Programme of Work on Article 8(j), which is a plan to ensure parties’ commitment to respect, preserve and maintain the knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities is carried out effectively and fairly. It also established a new permanent Subsidiary Body, which, among other, will see to the Programme’s implementation.
Why is this important? After more than 20 years of an ad-hoc working group on Art 8j, the permanent body will strengthen Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ voices across the CBD’s work. Furthermore, the programme mandates that Parties develop guidelines for including traditional lands in impact assessments and spatial planning processes, promote best practices, and support land tenure for Indigenous Peoples and local communities under national legislation.
New mandatory indicator to monitor the role of land tenure and land use in biodiversity protection
What happened?: World leaders took a major step towards recognising Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ contributions to sustainable land management when Parties endorsed the traditional knowledge indicator on land (HI 22.1) for headline status under Target 22 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) monitoring framework.
Why is this important? Starting in 2026, countries will be required to monitor and report on the land and territorial rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in NBSAPs, recognising secure land tenure as a crucial enabling factor for sustainable use and biodiversity outcomes.
- Learn more about the indicator
Afro-descendants are recognised as crucial to the implementation of biodiversity solutions
What happened? A decision called on parties to incorporate the “contributions of people of African descent, comprising collectives embodying traditional lifestyles,” integrate their knowledge into CBD and KMGBF implementation, and recognise their connection to their land.
Why is this important? The decision encourages full and effective participation, financial support, and capacity-building for Afro-descendant communities, comprising collectives embodying traditional lifestyles, as well as the inclusion of their contributions in national biodiversity strategies (NBSAPs). By recognising the role these communities play in protecting biodiversity and their connection to their lands, the decision sets the stage for strengthening their land rights protection through the Convention and its instruments.
- Learn more:
- Final decisionA decision called on parties to incorporate the “contributions of people of African descent, comprising collectives embodying traditional lifestyles,” integrate their knowledge into CBD and KMGBF implementation, and recognise their connection to their land.
UNFCCC COP29
Our takeaway:
COP29 both failed to secure meaningful financial commitments from developed countries in climate finance and to establish instruments directly or indirectly recognising land rights as important safeguards against the climate crisis.
Newly adopted rules on Article 6 UN carbon market mechanisms continue to lack effective safeguards, thus failing to reduce the risks of carbon markets for communities
What happened? The adoption of Article 6 carbon market mechanisms under the Paris Agreement contains weak rights safeguards. The newly adopted framework rules for Article 6.2 (country-to-country carbon trading) contain limited transparency and accountability mechanisms. The presidency also pushed through a day-one deal endorsing Article 6.4 documents on methodologies and removals – including the Sustainable Development Tool – which passed without any revisions.
Why is this a problem? Although the Sustainable Development Tool includes language on FPIC, (mitigating risks of displacement and loss of land and including an impact analysis on Indigenous Peoples’ rights to lands), safeguards focus exclusively on protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, excluding other communities. In general, Article 6 carbon market mechanisms lack clear land tenure protections and binding consequences for carbon project developers, raising concerns about risks related to carbon markets. Land is one of the top issues for communities impacted by the projects and a big expansion in the market is expected over the coming year.
What needs to happen? The review of the 6.4 Sustainable Development Tool (SDT) is only set for the next COP, one and one-half years from now. Meanwhile, negotiations ended with recommendations to look at other environmental agreements while moving forward with SDT – for example, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
How to support? It is important to collect data on land rights violations in carbon market projects to support further advocacy to secure land rights in Article 6 mechanisms.
Financial mobilisation falls short for developing countries
What happened? COP29 set a climate finance target of $300 billion annually by 2035, falling short of the trillion-dollar figure demanded by developing countries.
Why is this a problem? Critics warn that the $300 billion target barely improves pre-existing commitments, and will not adequately address the growing climate crises. Countries in the global south, that bear the brunt of the climate crisis – and continue to lack resources for mitigation, adaptation, and addressing loss and damage – will feel these shortfalls most.
What needs to happen? Call for Parties to reconsider their financing efforts aiming for additional, fairer and more direct grant-based financing for effective climate initiatives.
Renewal of Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) mandate is COP 29’s silver lining
What happened: The Baku Workplan for 2025–2027 by the Facilitative Working Group (FWG) of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) is adopted.
Why is this important? The plan enhances Indigenous Peoples and local communities' engagement in UNFCCC processes by recognising their vital role in shaping transformative climate policies and incorporating diverse values and knowledge systems into such policies and actions.
- Learn more:
UNCCD COP16
Our takeaway:
The UNCCD respects land rights in writing but needs stronger commitments for implementation.
Stronger land tenure decision reached
What happened? Following previous years (decisions 16/COP14, 26/COP14 and 27/COP15), COP16 adopted a new land tenure decision. This decision calls for policy alignment with the VGGTs, land tenure data, national focal points on land tenure, and inclusive and participatory national-level dialogue.
Why is this important? This decision further supports the implementation of land tenure policies in national policy frameworks and recognises their importance for combating land degradation and desertification.
Learn more:
Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus and Local Communities Caucus launched
What happened?: COP16 marks the creation of both a Caucus for Indigenous Peoples and a Caucus for Local Communities to ensure that their unique perspectives and challenges are adequately represented.
Why is this important? This enhances the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in combating desertification and land degradation through UNCCD instruments.
- Learn more: Read the Indigenous Peoples’ Declaration: Our Sacred Land
Stronger gender decision underscores the importance of women’s land rights
What happened? Building on previous years, COP16 adopted a gender decision that explicitly mentions women’s land rights, recognising their importance for the Convention’s effective implementation. This includes calling for sex-disaggregated data through national statistics offices and systems on land ownership, and further women’s land rights advocacy.
Why is this important? The decision further recognises the vital role women play in agriculture, food production, and land-based livelihoods.
- Learn more: draft decision
The first decision on rangeland and pastoralists highlights the importance of land tenure in rangelands, but pastoralists’ mobility, shared land use, and collective tenure should be more explicitly recognised
What happened? In a significant landmark, the UNCCD COP16 adopted a decision on grasslands and pastoralists, including mentions of land tenure for pastoralists in line with the VGGTs.
Why is this important?: Pastoralists’ rights are further recognised in the UNCCD framework, however, gaps remain and Pastoralists’ mobility, shared land use and collective tenure should be explicitly recognised.
- Learn more:
Land rights and the climate crisis
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