Indigenous Australia and Climate Change Narratives
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Transcript of Indigenous Australia and Climate Change Narratives
Indigenous Australia and Climate Change Narratives
Presented by Natasha Steinmann
• Two existing bodies of literature relating to climate change and indigenous Australians need to be linked
• This will:– Reveal recurring narratives of indigenous priorities– Provide a holistic understanding
Main Argument
http://www.indigenous.gov.au
• Find appropriate adaptive strategies that address changing climates and existing social hardships
Two Separate Bodies of Literature:The Australian Discussion
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Biophysical Climate Change
• Focused on observation of physical changes and economic sector impacts– Changing river flows– Dryland salinity– Increased frequency of devastating bush fire
• Less discussion on how these changes affect people– Vulnerability– Adaptation– Why?
Examples of key findings by the IPCC report (2007):
• increasing stresses on water supply and agriculture• economic losses caused by droughts, floods, fire, tropical cyclones, and hail• loss of biodiversity in ecologically rich sites
• vulnerability likely to rise due to increase in extreme events
• “There is recent recognition of the untapped resource of Indigenous knowledge about past climate change which could be used to inform adaptation options.”
Social Science and Indigenous Issues
Indigenous Priorities:
• Social and political equality
• Sovereignty
• Economic mobility
• Passing down of traditional knowledge
• Language and cultural preservation
• Land managementPhoto credit: http://www.kapululangu.org/
The Missing Link (?)
• Connecting biophysical climate change observations and predictions for Australia (IPCC 2007) with existing social, economic, and cultural discussions involving indigenous Australian communities and their needs
Example:
• Changing climate (river flow, drought, or flood) requires change in lifestyle habit
• Ability to change lifestyle depends on socioeconomic status, resource availability, and cultural resiliency
• Dependence of livelihoods on the environment shows how interconnected the two discussions are & how recurring narratives permeate both discussions
Recurring Narratives
Photo credit: David Hancock (The Solutions Journal)
Photo credit: http://www.aboriginalartshop.com/Aboriginal-Paintings/aboriginal-paintings.html
ConclusionsUltimate goal: to find “efficient, effective and equitable adaptation policies and strategies for Australian Indigenous communities” (NCCARF 2012)
Steps to get there:• Facilitate discussions and research studies that integrate climate change science with existing social narratives
• Include those affected (indigenous Australians) in discussions and policy-making processes
• Work with indigenous communities to implement adaptation strategies that address not only the river flow or fire susceptibility but also social/political/economic priorities
References• Heckbert, Scott, Russell-Smith, Jeremy, Reeson, Andrew, and Glenn James. “Indigenous Australians Fight Climate Change
with Fire”. The Solutions Journal. Availble online http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/1006.
• Hennessy, K et al. “Australia and New Zealand.” Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
• Kapululangu Women’s Law and Culture Centre. http://www.kapululangu.org/
• Langton M, et al., National Climate Change Adaptation Research Plan for Indigenous Communities (Gold Coast: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), 2012).
Questions?
Thank you for your time.
Photo credit: http://simplymulticultural.com/2012/02/sharing-through-culture/