The Third Indigenous Knowledge and Local Knowledge (IK & LK) Dialogue for GEO-7 took place at Furama Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 13th to 20th January 2025 with a visit to Huay Ee Khang an Indigenous Community on 12th January. The meeting was co-hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). The dialogue will focus on the review of the Second Order Draft (SOD) of GEO-7, the IK & LK Chapeaux and the First Order Draft (FOD) of the Summary for Policy Makers (SPM), specifically to provide feedback on the IK & LK content. This dialogue will be conducted in English only.
In preparation to the in-person dialogue, two virtual sessions were conducted on 4th November and 4th December 2024. The first session introduced participants to the structure of GEO-7 and the review process, while the second addressed logistical details of the upcoming dialogue and facilitated caucus discussions among participants.
The IK & LK dialogue for GEO-7 was a success, fostering collaboration, cultural exchange, and actionable insights. The contributions made during the event will significantly enhance the IK & LK components of the GEO-7 report, ensuring that Indigenous and local knowledge systems are adequately represented in global environmental assessments. These efforts pave the way for stronger integration of diverse knowledge systems in policymaking and environmental governance.
