Advancing the Contributions of Indigenous Peoples. New Understandings for Responding to Climate Change in Chile

• Applicant: Rosario Carmona Yost, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Social and Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 521861043

There is no longer any doubt, we need urgent action to minimise climate change. However, the sustainability of our actions depends to a large extent on our ability to integrate the diverse and interconnected challenges we face. The success of climate policy demands a coherent integration of our social, environmental and economic challenges, including Indigenous Peoples' historical demand for self-determination. Although Indigenous Peoples are gaining prominence in international climate change debates, their involvement in national legislation remains marginal. In Chile, Indigenous Peoples inhabit 10% of the national protected areas and their territories coincide with the most vulnerable to climate change. Although the State has steadily built its climate governance through the creation of committees, offices and action plans, the standards of citizen participation in these processes have been deficient, especially concerning Indigenous Peoples' participation. Improving coherence regarding Indigenous Peoples' participation demands intercultural capabilities that critically address policy implementation patterns in Indigenous territories and a better analysis of climate policy impacts, including stakeholder assessments. With justice as a guiding principle, national efforts can lead to the transformation of international climate governance. From an ethnographic approach, this research project aims to analyse the potential contributions of Indigenous knowledge and participation to climate governance in Chile. It will do so by analysing how Indigenous leaders understand and interpret climate change, its causes and impacts; assessing the vertical and horizontal coherence of climate policy regarding Indigenous Peoples' participation; characterising Indigenous Peoples’ participation in Chilean climate governance, based on the opinions of various actors involved in the process; and analysing the expectations of various Indigenous leaders regarding national climate policy. The project will draw on a qualitative approach, including fieldwork, desk research, ethnography, participant observations, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and multi-stakeholder workshops.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: Norway
• Host: Professorin Dr. Karen O' Brien