Pope: Indigenous ‘ancestral wisdom’ vital tool in climate fight

Pope Francis Emphasizes Indigenous Voices and Sustainable Development Goals

By Matthew Santucci

Rome Newsroom, Mar 15, 2024 / 10:20 am

Pope Francis delivered a speech on Thursday highlighting the significance of amplifying Indigenous voices and integrating “ancestral wisdom” as part of broader efforts to address the impacts of human-induced climate change.

The pope emphasized the importance of open dialogue between Indigenous knowledge and scientific research, as well as the need to bridge the gap between communities rooted in ancestral wisdom and those grounded in scientific disciplines. He stated that this collaboration can lead to a new, more comprehensive, and effective approach in addressing interconnected issues such as water scarcity, climate change, hunger, and biodiversity loss.

The pontiff made these remarks during the conference titled “Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge and the Sciences,” organized by the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences. The conference, held at the Vatican from March 14 to 15, aims to bring together diverse voices from the pontifical academies, Indigenous groups, academics, and international organizations. Its objective is to explore how traditional Indigenous teachings and methodologies can be harmonized with conventional science to inform global policies on climate change, biodiversity loss, food security, and health.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
   • Target 13.a: Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
   • Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth, and local and marginalized communities

   The article discusses the importance of addressing climate change, which is directly connected to SDG 13: Climate Action. Pope Francis emphasizes the need for open dialogue between Indigenous knowledge and conventional science to confront issues such as climate change.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
   • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species

   The article mentions the need to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and ancestral wisdom to inform global policy on biodiversity loss. This aligns with SDG 15: Life on Land, which aims to protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss.

3. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round
   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment

   The article highlights the importance of Indigenous knowledge in addressing issues such as hunger and food security. This relates to SDG 2: Zero Hunger, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

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Source: catholicnewsagency.com

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