On January 22, the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) said it would stand for incorporation of Indigenous knowledge in International Maritime Organization work to have a greater voice in shipping. This statement was made at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Sub-committee meeting on ship construction in London.
ICC is also aiming for full consultative status at the IMO.
ICC represents the approximately 180,000 Inuit in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka, Russia. Protecting the environment and reducing carbon emissions in general is an important task for Indigenous peoples.
However, it is important to note that Indigenous peoples take the position that a transition to green energy shouldn't come at the expense of the rights of Indigenous peoples. This position is well illustrated by the example of the Fosen wind farm, which is located in central Norway. Despite the fact that the Fosen wind, being Norway’s largest wind farm, could accelerate the transition to green energy, the Saami people are opposed to the project, arguing that the wind turbines will interfere with reindeer migration paths and disrupt their traditional way of life.
Tackling underwater noise is another important challenge facing Indigenous peoples to protect their customary way of life. The reduction of underwater noise pollution is one of the topics at this week’s IMO meeting. Underwater noise can be produced by everything from ship propellers to the form of a boat’s hull to on-board machinery.
The International Maritime Organization approved guidelines in 2014 to address commercial shipping noise. The guidelines give recommendations for shipbuilders and operators.
However, ICC has previously said the progress has been slow due to their voluntary nature. Therefore, the ICC proposes aggressive measures to reduce and eliminate pollution such as black carbon emissions which increase local warming and ice melt, along with discharges of greywater and the use of scrubbers that dump toxic effluent in important ocean areas, ICC said on Monday.
Summing up, the interaction of the Indigenous and other stakeholders within international organizations is important to proceed with Indigenous knowledge, potentially helping to address existing problems.
Source: Eye on the Arctic
The editorial board of The Arctic Century
Mkutano wa Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) unaonyesha kuwa wataendelea kuunga mkono maarifa ya wenyeji katika kazi ya Shirika la Kimataifa la Bahari ili kuwa na sauti kubwa katika usafirishaji. Taarifa hiyo ilitolewa katika mkutano wa Kamati ndogo ya Shirika la Kimataifa la Bahari (IMO) kuhusu ujenzi wa meli huko London. ICC pia inakusudia kuwa na hadhi kamili ya ushauri katika IMO. ICC inawakilisha Inuit takriban 180,000 katika Alaska, Canada, Greenland, na Chukotka, Urusi. Kulinda mazingira na kupunguza uzalishaji wa kaboni kwa ujumla ni kazi muhimu kwa watu wa asili. Hata hivyo, ni muhimu kutambua kwamba watu wa asili kuchukua msimamo kwamba mpito kwa nishati ya kijani haipaswi kuja kwa gharama ya haki za watu wa asili. Msimamo huu unaonyeshwa vizuri na mfano wa shamba la upepo la Fosen, ambalo liko katikati mwa Norway. Ingawa Fosen Wind, ambayo ni shamba kubwa zaidi la upepo nchini Norway, inaweza kuharakisha mabadiliko ya nishati ya kijani, watu wa Saami wanapinga mradi huo, wakisema kuwa turbine za upepo zitazingatia njia za uhamiaji wa reindeer na kuvuruga njia yao ya jadi ya maisha. Kushughulikia kelele za chini ya maji ni changamoto nyingine muhimu inayokabili wenyeji ili kulinda njia yao ya kawaida ya maisha. Kupunguza uchafuzi wa kelele chini ya maji ni moja ya mada katika mkutano wa wiki hii wa IMO. Kelele ya chini ya maji inaweza kutokezwa na kila kitu kutoka kwa propela za meli hadi kwa umbo la mwili wa mashua hadi mashine za ndani. Shirika la Kimataifa la Bahari (IMO) limetoa miongozo ya kuepuka kelele za meli za kibiashara. Miongozo hiyo inatoa mapendekezo kwa wajenzi wa meli na waendeshaji. Hata hivyo, ICC imesema maendeleo yamekuwa polepole kwa sababu ya asili yao ya hiari. "Kwa hivyo, ICC inapendekeza hatua kali za kupunguza na kuondoa uchafuzi kama vile uzalishaji wa kaboni nyeusi ambao huongeza joto la ndani na kuyeyuka kwa barafu, pamoja na kutolewa kwa maji ya kijivu na matumizi ya washonaji ambao hutupa maji machafu yenye sumu katika maeneo muhimu ya bahari. """ Kwa muhtasari, mwingiliano wa wenyeji na wadau wengine ndani ya mashirika ya kimataifa ni muhimu kuendelea na maarifa ya wenyeji, uwezekano wa kusaidia kushughulikia matatizo yaliyopo. Chanzo: Jicho juu ya Arctic Bodi ya uhariri wa The Arctic Century