“Climate change poses threats and dangers to the survival of indigenous communities worldwide, even though they contribute least to greenhouse emissions,” he said.

Indigenous peoples are “vital to the many ecosystems in their lands and territories and help enhance the resilience of these ecosystems,” Mr. D’Escoto told the Indigenous Peoples’ Summit on Climate Change in Anchorage, Alaska.

The President urged parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to ensure that indigenous peoples’ rights are respected and implemented.

He stressed the importance of making sure that indigenous peoples, “who value the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature and have the lightest ecological footprints, participate in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating climate change policies and programmes at all levels.”

News Tracker: past stories on this issue

Assembly President calls for unity in protecting planet on Earth Day