What do IPO do?

The Indigenous Peoples Organisation (IPO) is a coalition of 285 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and individuals who advocate for Indigenous rights at the United Nations and are committed to implementing the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within Australia and overseas. IPO addresses a wide range of concerns from land and climate management, cultural heritage, remote communities, welfare entitlements, housing and services, community well-being, and self-determination as the key overarching right, which is the foundation of all other rights.

Why is this work important?

Australia is experiencing extreme and catastrophic weather events, worsened by climate change. The 2019-20 summer brought these extremes home to all Australians, with extreme drought, bushfires, flooding and heatwaves. More than 12.6 million hectares burned, 11.3 million Australians were affected by smoke, over 1 billion animals were killed, and 34 people died. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, in particular, bear an unfair burden, yet the broader public hears little of the dire impact and loss experienced.

At the same time, Australia’s response measures to the COVID recovery offer opportunities to transition communities, industries and regions to zero emissions, climate-resilient futures, with the promise of sustainable livelihoods and healthier communities. Yet the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are often marginalised in Australian climate change dialogue, which is generally dominated by the vested interests of the fossil fuel industry and the climate-denying conservative press.

As the Australian Government engages in both domestic policy development and international diplomacy in the lead up to the November United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), there is an important opportunity to raise the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a call for the strongest possible mitigation and adaptation policies and programs, for restorative justice. Now, more than ever, the nation’s attention can be drawn to both the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities and the leadership and self-direction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

IPO’s participation in, and co-convening of, key forums, including the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the NAIDOC webinar series and the national Better Futures Forum (target for 1,000 registrants) will pave the way for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities to be shared by trusted voices and heard by the international community through a well-prepared Indigenous delegation at COP26 this November.

How is Groundswell supporting this work?

Working within IPO’s coalition of 285 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and individuals, and with the BFA community, our activities over the next 12 months will focus on increasing the understanding of climate change priorities for Indigenous peoples and strengthening collaboration and readiness for joint advocacy among these groups.

In conjunction with BFA partners, we will organise and convene a NAIDOC week ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Climate Change Priorities’ webinar series through 4 - 11 July, that aims to actively engage more than 300 individuals. Aligned with the NAIDOC 2021 theme, ‘Heal Country!’, we will engage and inspire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from all walks of life to carry forward the message of collectively looking after country and taking ownership of our collective futures.

Across five days, the series will convene trusted voices across a range of critical climate discussions, including self-determination; water; land management; community safety; and Indigenous and environmental rights in the international context. This will provide an initial platform to inform further climate solutions advocacy work, including at the Better Futures Forum (actively engaging up to 1,000 individuals), Pacific Islands Forum, and a delegation at COP26. We will use these forums to highlight climate impacts on Australia’s First Nations Peoples and to be an effective voice calling for strong climate action and investment in zero emissions opportunities for our communities back home.

Grant update

Groundswell was proud to award Indigenous Peoples Organisation with a $40,000 major climate action grant in April 2021 to support their work ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are given a strong platform at national and international climate forums during this critical year for climate ambition.

Here are some of the impressive achievements Groundswell has supported over the past 12 months:

• NAIDOC week ‘Heal Country, Heal Climate’ webinar series, 5-9 July, convened more than 15 First Nations leaders to explore climate impacts and solutions, reaching a live audience of more than 750 Australians across five days.

• The webinars kick-started a series of workshops and meetings that saw the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander climate change priorities, a critical research piece advocated for at COP26 which has provided an invaluable framework for policy makers and campaigners alike.

• IPO Chairs Dr Virginia Marshall and Pastor Ray Minniecon travelled to Glasgow in November to advocate at COP26 (see photos below and here). Media stories here and here.

• With our renewed support in April 2022 they will now be sending another even larger delegation to COP27 to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are centred in these international climate negotiations.

Join Groundswell