Climate governance
Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP)
Definition
The Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform is a formal platform under the UNFCCC, established by decision 1/CP.21 (paragraph 135) at COP21 in 2015, to exchange experience, build capacity and integrate the knowledge, technologies and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities into climate policy and action. Its Facilitative Working Group was operationalised by decision 2/CP.23 with three functions: knowledge, capacity for engagement, and climate change policies and actions.
References
COP21 establishment, decision references, three functions, Facilitative Working Group
platform mandate and activities
Overview
What it means
The LCIPP is the main institutional channel through which indigenous knowledge-holders and local communities participate directly in UN climate negotiations, with a Facilitative Working Group including equal indigenous and Party representation.
How it is used
It convenes workshops and dialogues at UNFCCC sessions, documents traditional knowledge for adaptation and mitigation, and advises the COP on strengthening community engagement.
Why it matters
Indigenous peoples steward much of the world's remaining biodiversity and carbon-rich ecosystems; the platform gives them a recognised, structured voice in decisions that directly affect their lands.