A/HRC/36/46 Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. Its assessments provide a scientific basis for governments at all levels to develop climaterelated policies.8 21. In its Fifth Assessment Report, published in 2014, the Panel raised concerns that the existing climate change policies and regulations might lead to limiting access to territories, substitution of traditional livelihoods, reduced genetic diversity and harvesting opportunities as well as loss of transmission of indigenous knowledge, which in turn may limit the effect of climate change adaptation measures in many regions. 9 22. The Panel also noted that indigenous knowledge has been effective in developing measures to cope with climate hazards and has contributed to increased food security in many parts of the world. Examples include the Inuit knowledge of climate variability when hunting, the Inca traditions of crop diversification and knowledge of genetic diversity and, in the Sahel, the use of water-harvesting strategies and weather forecasting. 10 23. The Panel confirmed indigenous peoples’ long-standing claim in relation to traditional knowledge that “indigenous, local, and traditional knowledge systems and practices, including indigenous peoples’ holistic view of community and environment, are a major resource for adapting to climate change, but these have not been used consistently in existing adaptation efforts. Integrating such forms of knowledge with existing practices increases the effectiveness of adaptation”. 11 24. Indigenous peoples can assist in providing solutions to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. The International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change and UNEP have noted that indigenous peoples can contribute to numerous potential adaptation activities by drawing on their traditional knowledge. Examples of such activities include documentation of traditional knowledge; climate monitoring and reporting; traditional fire management, disaster preparedness and response and early warning systems; rainwater harvesting; traditional agriculture techniques; coastal marine management; alternative energy development; and the development of sustainable livelihoods. Furthermore, indigenous peoples can play a role in stopping deforestation by land titling, forest management and conservation and local governance strengthening. 12 IV. Human rights bodies, indigenous peoples and climate change 25. Human rights bodies are devoting increased attention to violations of indigenous peoples’ rights in the context of climate change. 26. The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which addresses human rights issues as part of its advisory mandate, as long as a decade ago decided to debate climate as a special theme at its annual session and has undertaken several studies on the impact of climate change on indigenous peoples (E/C.19/2008/10, E/C.19/2010/7). 27. Human rights treaty bodies, notably the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, have addressed the impact of climate change on indigenous peoples in the context of their periodic reviews of States parties. Human rights treaty bodies have specifically called on States to develop national plans, policies and programmes to address climate change, while fully engaging indigenous peoples in their design. They have also called for disaster preparedness and emergency 8 9 10 11 12 6 See www.ipcc.ch/. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability, Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects, Working Group II Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (New York, Cambridge University Press, 2014), chap. 7, p. 517. Available from www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg2/. Ibid., chap. 11, p. 718. Ibid., Summary for Policymakers, p. 26. UNEP, Climate Change and Human Rights, p. 27; see also www.iipfcc.org/key-issues.