A five-day meeting of Australia’s Traditional Owners and scientists to plan a response to climate change has been held in Queensland by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Part of the CSIRO’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub (ESCC), the Gathering was the largest of its kind and brought together more than 120 Traditional Owners, who represented more than 40 different First People’s groups.
CSIRO said the Gathering provided communities with the tools to respond to climate change-induced events heatwaves, rising sea levels, and bushfires.
Hub Leader for NESP ESCC and scientist with CSIRO, David Karoly said the Gathering built on previous events held in 2012 and 2018 in collaboration with the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation.
“Climate science has helped to establish a clear line of evidence of a changing climate due to increased human fossil carbon emissions, and many First Peoples are already using climate change science to care for Country and communities,” Dr Karoly said.
“There is an immense opportunity for climate scientists and Traditional Owners to work together,” he said.
Dr Karoly said the Gathering was an Indigenous-led, co-designed process that had been developed with a First Peoples-led Steering Committee of ten Traditional Owners and the ESCC Hub.
“It’s all about First Peoples having a genuine seat at the table, and the way we have designed this event reflects just that,” he said.
Co-Chair of the First Peoples-led Steering Committee, Bianca McNeair said the Gathering provided a critical space for Traditional Owner groups to share their experiences and discuss pathways forward to help their communities adapt.
“We are really excited to produce tangible and useful materials for our participants to take back to communities,” Ms McNeair said.
“These products explain climate change and hazards in the face of extreme and accelerating events affecting Country, and the hope is that they will help communities put in place effective and tailored climate change adaptation pathways,” she said.
