The Contribution of Traditional Knowledge and Technology to Climate Solutions
Indigenous peoples and local communities are especially vulnerable to environmental degradation, climate change, and poor forestry practices.
But they are not passive agents in the fight against climate change.
Indigenous peoples and local communities hold highly specialized traditional knowledge and technologies (TKT), rooted in local ecosystems, that have been shown to be beneficial to environmental conservation and climate action.
Traditional housing and architecture, food systems, navigational and resource charts, taro pits, water harvesting techniques, and land extension processes are invaluable forms of traditional knowledge and technologies.
Research has shown that incorporating TKT into climate change policies can lead to effective, cost-efficient, participatory, and sustainable mitigation and adaptation strategies. It can also complement modern science, technology, and innovation to the benefit of both people and nature, particularly in communities that are responsible for overseeing or stewarding lands and resources in climate mitigation and adaptation projects.
By making Indigenous peoples and local communities a core stakeholder group, CIF’s inclusive governance and operational model continues to be a key feature for delivering climate action more broadly.
This study combines analyses and country case studies showcasing traditional approaches to addressing climate change, helping chart the way forward for integrating these tested approaches, lessons and experiences into climate action.
Commissioned by the CIF, this study was conducted through an interdisciplinary desk review of the latest literature on indigenous knowledge, traditional ecological knowledge, technology, and climate.
The research included interviews with a wide network of indigenous peoples, scholars, government officials, development practitioners, and entrepreneurs. The study was peer reviewed by specialists from the World Bank and the World Intellectual Property Rights Organization and technical experts nominated by the CIF’s Indigenous People’s observers.
Download the report here.