KLC at UNFCCC Twenty First Conference of the Parties in Paris

Jan 19, 2016

Anthony Watson and four KLC representatives have returned from Paris, where they presented ancient Kimberley Savannah Burning initiatives to the World Climate Change Conference.

A group of five delegates from the KLC attended the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris. COP21 took place during November 30 to December 11 and was the 21st annual meeting of countries that want to take action on climate change.

KLC chairman Anthony Watson, who was also the Australian delegate to the Indigenous People’s Forum on Climate Change, led the KLC group of five.

Mr Watson said there was great interest in the KLC’s North Kimberley Fire Abatement Project and our experience managing fire regimes to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Other countries want to learn how we do it in the Kimberley. It’s amazing that something we have been practicing for thousands of years is part of mitigating climate change.”

The KLC group gave presentations at the Indigenous Pavilion of COP21 and associated events – the Global Landscapes Forum, and the UNESCO-organised Indigenous People and Climate Change Conference.

Mr Watson says that although the progress made may have only been small, it was movement nonetheless.

“To get each government to look more closely at all of our countries agreeing to less than 2 degrees centigrade on climate change is a good outcome. Just to push the government to make a move to show this leadership has been great.”