EU Statement – UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Indigenous Peoples and climate change

EU Statement - UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Indigenous Peoples and climate change

20 April 2026, New York - Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States by H.E. Ambassador Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 25th Session 2026 on Agenda item 5 (e): "Indigenous Peoples and climate change: articles 3, 4, 25 and 26 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples"

Chair,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Serbia*, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* align themselves with this statement.

Today's dialogue comes at a crucial time when we must act to address the impact of climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation and pollution that also has severe impacts on the enjoyment of human rights of current and future generations.

The EU and its Member States remain firmly committed to upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including with regards to climate change, as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and international human rights law. We are concerned that while Indigenous Peoples contribute least to emissions, they face disproportionate, irreversible impacts on their lands, health, and cultures. Urgent action is needed to prevent harm and ensure accountability, especially to stop deaths and human rights violations faced by Indigenous Peoples.

Climate policies should acknowledge that Indigenous Peoples experience climate impacts in distinct manners and ensure that Indigenous Peoples perspectives are meaningfully integrated into climate-related decision-making.

There remains a critical absence of locally generated and systemised data. The Indigenous Navigator - which has been supported by the EU since its inception - is a global initiative designed by and for Indigenous Peoples to monitor the recognition and implementation of their rights. The initiative generates data which is vital to inform political decisions. To address climate related data gaps, the Indigenous Navigator has developed a new Climate Change module and the reports for the first pilot countries Nepal and Bangladesh are now available.

Docip, the Indigenous Peoples' Centre for Documentation, Research and Information, has benefited from the EU's support for more than 10 years. The project aims at improving responsiveness of the global human rights system to Indigenous Peoples. It also promotes their direct and effective representation to the EU, the UN Human Rights system and Climate Change conferences.

Environmental human rights defenders, including Indigenous human rights defenders, play a key role in protecting the environment. Indigenous, land, and environmental defenders are among the most targeted. The EU is the leading supporter of Human Rights Defenders worldwide. Since its launch in 2015, ProtectDefenders.eu has supported more than 95.000 individual human rights defenders.

I thank you, Chair.

1. ^North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.