Indigenous Cultural Property Law is a complex and evolving area of law that encompasses a wide range of issues related to the protection of Indigenous knowledge. The laws in this area are designed to recognize the unique relationship that Indigenous peoples have with their cultural heritage and to ensure their rights to their cultural heritage are respected and protected. I developed a particular interest in Indigenous Cultural Property Law at COP 27, which was often mentioned in conversations with Indigenous leaders and environmental activists. As I reflect on the critical takeaways from COP 27, I decided to amplify a set of claims using Indigenous Cultural Property Law as a framework.
Category: Climate Justice
COP27: A reflection on the Role of Business and Environmental Justice in International Climate Policy
What role can and does business play in providing just solutions towards a more sustainable future? I reflect on this in the context of COP27.
Reflecting on COP26, 4 months later
COP26, hosted by the United Kingdom, in Glasgow, Scotland wrapped up just over four months ago in November 2021. I had the immense privilege and honor of attending COP26 with the University of Michigan's Student Delegation made up of 13 graduate students this year. These last 4 months, as my day-to-day life fell back into …
“Keep Polluters Out, Let the People In:” A Rallying Call for Climate Justice at COP25
Since 1995, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has hosted the yearly Conferences of Parties (COP) to facilitate international climate policy. Organizations from around the world gather to set the agenda for coordinated action on climate change. Marking its 25th meeting, COP25 suffered multiple setbacks beginning during the planning stages and continuing …
The Politics of Power in Global Climate Efforts: A Reflection
The 25th Conference of Parties (COP 25) was originally scheduled to be held in Santiago, Chile, but a national fight against structural injustices there led to a last-minute change of locale. Instead, the global climate change convening took place in Madrid, Spain. While I and the other U-M delegates were able to change our flights …
Continue reading The Politics of Power in Global Climate Efforts: A Reflection
Interwoven Entanglements: Reflections on Indigenous Language and Community-Engagement at COP25
It’s day 3 of COP25 and I’m serving as a volunteer, note taking for the UN Secretariat at the Joint Event on Integrating Local and Indigenous knowledge into Adaptation Action. As the facilitator, Musonda Mumba, Chief of the Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit at the UNEP staged a guiding question, “How do we integrate the diverse knowledge …
Looking (23 years) Back
(This blog post was written by Sindhu Bharadwaj, a delegate to this year's Conference of Parties.) The proceedings at the 23rd Conference of Parties closed just over three months ago. This purpose of this year’s meeting was mainly technical. Negotiators from all over the world were to iron out the details of implementing the Paris …
Environmental Justice Issues Pre-COP 22
As COP 22 is around the corner, let’s take a look at some of the most noteworthy issues that will be discussed pertaining to environmental justice: The Paris Agreement The climate change agreement negotiated during COP 21 in 2015 and ratified by 87 of 197 parties is going into effect today. Many environmental justice advocates …
Climate Blue 