to their strong reliance on the environment for their livelihoods. Indigenous peoples may live in areas that are rich in biodiversity and particularly vulnerable to modifications in the environment, including those due to climate change. The direct and indirect impacts of climate change may threaten the very existence of the peoples of the Arctic, of small islands, high altitude areas, drylands and other vulnerable environments. Indigenous laws, beliefs and customs provide the framework for harmonious relations between indigenous peoples and their environment. In some cases, conservation programmes might have negative impacts on indigenous peoples and their capacity to use and protect their environment. Indigenous peoples are also severely affected by locally produced environmental contaminants, including from alien settlements, transportation routes, industry, forestry, military activities, prospecting, mining and oil production. Exposed indigenous communities may in some cases be forced to shift from traditional to non-traditional diets in order to minimize future risk of contamination. The UNDG Guidelines provide a number of guiding principles for UNDP policy responses that are consistent with the right of indigenous peoples to the conservation and productive capacity of the environment. The spiritual relationship of indigenous peoples to their lands and territories and environmentally sustainable practices have been recognized and conservation efforts on indigenous lands, including the establishment of new and management of existing protected areas, need to take place with the free, prior and informed consent and full participation of the communities concerned. Indigenous peoples have traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and their knowledge, and such practices should be recognized and respected, including their rights to benefit from traditional knowledge. 66 In the case of climate change, indigenous communities have contributed the least to the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases because of their traditional practices, yet they are among the first to face direct adverse environmental, social and human consequences of climate change. Consequently, indigenous peoples must fully participate in the definition and implementation of policies and plans related to climate change impact mitigation. Based on their long-term relationship with their environments, indigenous peoples often possess sophisticated traditional ecological knowledge of weather patterns, including complex adaptive responses towards cycles of climatic variability. In this context, indigenous peoples’ knowledge could be considered an important element within the international debate regarding adaptation to climate change. Key Messages  Lack of participation, higher rates of poverty, and discrimination are some factors that make marginalised minorities especially vulnerable to environmental conditions.  Traditional livelihoods of minorities can be particularly affected by environmental change  Practices of environmental racism put minorities at higher risk of environmentally-related health problems M A R G I N A L I S E D M I N O R I T I E S I N D E V E LO P M E N T P R O G R A M M I N g