Preserving Indigenous Knowledge: Ancient Wisdom for Tackling Modern Climate Crises

The World Bank’s upcoming report for 2025, titled Indigenous Knowledge, Local Knowledge, and Climate Change: Interconnections for Policy and Practice, focuses on a crucial topic: how Indigenous Peoples and local communities are affected by climate change and how they can help address it. Written by anthropologist Stanford Zent, the report draws from years of research, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) in tackling climate issues.

Indigenous Knowledge is Valuable

ILK is a collection of knowledge passed down through stories and practices over generations. It includes deep understandings of the environment, reflected through cultural traditions and land management. For example, many Indigenous communities in Latin America, particularly in the Amazon, monitor the land and weather with incredible detail—far beyond what satellite images can capture. This intimate knowledge often leads to better forest management; such communities manage nearly 36% of the planet’s intact forests, achieving lower deforestation rates than many protected areas.

Three Key Approaches for Policy

The report outlines three ways to effectively incorporate ILK into climate policies:

1. Integration: Blending ILK with scientific research can improve climate predictions. However, some argue this approach tends to take knowledge without giving proper credit to the communities.

2. Justice: Indigenous-led organizations strive for recognition of communities as key climate actors. They advocate for land rights and fair participation in decision-making.

3. Collaborative Action: This approach encourages partnerships between scientists and Indigenous communities. Together, they can identify challenges and develop solutions based on mutual respect. Successful examples of this can be seen in networks across the Pacific Northwest and adaptation projects in Africa.

Preserving Cultural Knowledge in Changing Times

Despite the growing recognition of ILK, its survival is at risk due to climate change. Rapid environmental changes can disrupt traditional practices. When climatic shifts occur too quickly, old ways of understanding the seasons may no longer apply. Additionally, when younger generations move to cities or face displacement due to ecological changes, they may lose touch with their heritage.

Recent studies highlight how these disruptions are happening. For instance, as climate patterns shift, traditional knowledge of farming or medicine becomes less reliable, threatening both cultural and ecological sustainability.

A Path Forward

The report offers a vision for integrating ILK into climate governance. It emphasizes that Indigenous Peoples should be seen as rights-holders, deserving authority over their lands and environmental policies. Recommendations include:

• Ensuring secure land rights.
• Supporting community-led adaptation efforts.
• Developing measures to assess the health of ILK.
• Engaging in detailed research that respects Indigenous perspectives.

The World Bank’s initiatives like Amazonia Viva demonstrate how existing efforts align with these principles.

Zent urges that addressing climate resilience is everyone’s responsibility. He advocates for collaboration between scientific and Indigenous knowledge systems. By doing so, we can create a comprehensive approach to climate action, recognizing ILK as a dynamic framework to guide us in uncertain times. This collaboration may hold the key to a more sustainable future for all.

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World Bank, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Indigenous and Local Knowledge, ILK, COICA, Climate Action Plans