Indigenous Australia and Climate Change Narratives

1. Indigenous Australia and Climate Change Narratives Presented by Natasha Steinmann

2. Main Argument • Two existing bodies of literature relating to climate change and indigenous Australians need to be linked • This will: • Reveal recurring narratives of indigenous priorities • Provide a holistic understanding • Find appropriate adaptive strategies that address changing climates and existing social hardships http://www.indigenous.gov.au

3. Two Separate Bodies of Literature:The Australian Discussion ?

4. Biophysical Climate Change • Focused on observation of physical changes and economic sector impacts • Changing river flows • Dryland salinity • Increased frequency of devastating bush fire • Less discussion on how these changes affect people • Vulnerability • Adaptation • Why? • Examples of key findings by the IPCC report (2007): • increasing stresses on water supply and agriculture • economic losses caused by droughts, floods, fire, tropical cyclones, and hail • loss of biodiversity in ecologically rich sites • vulnerability likely to rise due to increase in extreme events • “There is recent recognition of the untapped resource of Indigenous knowledge about past climate change which could be used to inform adaptation options.”

5. Social Science and Indigenous Issues • Indigenous Priorities: • Social and political equality • Sovereignty • Economic mobility • Passing down of traditional knowledge • Language and cultural preservation • Land management Photo credit: http://www.kapululangu.org/

6. The Missing Link (?) • Connecting biophysical climate change observations and predictions for Australia (IPCC 2007) with existing social, economic, and cultural discussions involving indigenous Australian communities and their needs • Example: • Changing climate (river flow, drought, or flood) requires change in lifestyle habit • Ability to change lifestyle depends on socioeconomic status, resource availability, and cultural resiliency • Dependence of livelihoods on the environment shows how interconnected the two discussions are & how recurring narratives permeate both discussions

7. Recurring Narratives Photo credit: David Hancock (The Solutions Journal) Photo credit: http://www.aboriginalartshop.com/Aboriginal-Paintings/aboriginal-paintings.html

8. Conclusions Ultimate goal: to find “efficient, effective and equitable adaptation policies and strategies for Australian Indigenous communities” (NCCARF 2012) • Steps to get there: • Facilitate discussions and research studies that integrate climate change science with existing social narratives • Include those affected (indigenous Australians) in discussions and policy-making processes • Work with indigenous communities to implement adaptation strategies that address not only the river flow or fire susceptibility but also social/political/economic priorities 

9. References • Heckbert, Scott, Russell-Smith, Jeremy, Reeson, Andrew, and Glenn James. “Indigenous Australians Fight Climate Change with Fire”. The Solutions Journal.Availble online http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/1006. • Hennessy, K et al. “Australia and New Zealand.” Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. • Kapululangu Women’s Law and Culture Centre. http://www.kapululangu.org/ • Langton M, et al., National Climate Change Adaptation Research Plan for Indigenous Communities (Gold Coast: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), 2012).

10. Questions? Thank you for your time. Photo credit: http://simplymulticultural.com/2012/02/sharing-through-culture/