A regenerative climate change model that
marries the ancient wisdom of indigenous groups with emerging
innovations, technologies and scientific approaches has been launched by the Commonwealth.
Common
Earth, is the programme that will create a network of projects that
could be replicated and adapted to any community, country or region.
Government
officials, environmentalists, scientists, economists, and
representatives from indigenous groups from around the Commonwealth
met at the organisation’s headquarters in London to discuss how the
initiative can achieve sustainable development whilst protecting the
planet.
“It
is not game over in the battle against climate change its game on,”
said Secretary-General Patricia Scotland. “Because this about
looking at practical, existing strategies to clean streams, restore
forests and damaged ecosystems, protect marine health, educate our
populations and challenge the economic and development approaches
that led to the decline of our planet.
“It
is about a development model that takes into account the ancient
wisdom of the indigenous peoples that found a way to live in harmony
with their environments, and integrates it into our scientific
advances and solutions to climate change. And it is a model I will
take to ministers in our upcoming trade and finance summits and heads
of governments at their meeting next year.”
Common
Earth, she added, will be based on regenerative economic models.
Economist Stuart Cowan explained how these types of economies will
work.
“When
we talk about regenerative economies we are looking at cycles of
growth transformation,” he said. “We are looking for ways to
bring ecological systems back into full health and blossoming, and
figuring out how our economies can meet all our needs, while nature
flourishes.
“So
as we think about climate change the health of living systems is
critically important. The way we use our land, grow our food and
design our cities and transportation systems can reduce carbon
emissions rapidly and efficiently.
The
Common Earth project will be hinged on the activities of five working
groups:
- the
'Commonwealth Small State, Climate Change Blue-Green Trade Working
Group';
- the
'Gender and Climate Change Working Group';
- the
'Indigenous Affairs Working Group';
- the
'Waters Prosperity Working Group';
- the
'Regenerative Finance Working Group’.
Nichie
Abo a member and former chairman of the Tribal Council for the
Kalinago Indians in Dominica described the conference as important in
providing solutions to climate change. He described the Kalinago
Global Resilience projects which have created approaches to building
infrastructure and farming that can help to protect, preserve and
restore natural resources.
He
said, “The Kalinago way is simple, it is not materialistic, not
extractive, it has respect for the earth and the entire environment
and we view ourselves as one element in the circle of life. What has
brought us to this point is that we are not spiritually connected to
the earth. And this indigenous philosophy is what the world is now
returning to because Western societies have recognised, and science
has proven the benefits of the indigenous way of life.”
Rola
Khoury, CEO of the Common Earth implementation partner the Cloudburst
Foundation, said: “The Common Earth Commonwealth Regenerative
Development Convening was an unprecedented meeting between
scientists, regenerative and drawdown practitioners, and diverse
communities including many youth and indigenous peoples who came to
discuss the importance of integrated climate action to restore
ecosystems and communities.
In
addition to delivering pilot projects from Belize, Kalinago, New
Zealand, and Kiribati delegates formed five working groups on blue
green trade, indigenous affairs, regenerative finance and gender and
climate change. All participants agreed to take coordinated action on
regeneration in their regions and to deliver new projects including
the Global Common Earth Network.”
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