Energy and Climate Justice in Indigenous Lands

· 110 MWs Native Wind Power
· Just Transition to Renewable Energy
· Human Rights, Oil and Global Warming in Alaska

Tuesday, May 8, 2007
1:15-2:45
Conference Room B

15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, New York City, NY, United Nations

Faith Gemmill, REDOIL, Alaska - The fossil fuel industry is leaving a legacy of pollution, health impacts and destruction in Alaska. Alaska Natives have been calling upon the U.S to create an energy policy that will curb the alarming effects of global warming such as renewable energy technology and fuel efficiency standards.

Wahleah Johns, Black Mesa Water Coalition, Arizona - The Just Transition Campaign is an innovative, proactive plan to transition the Navajo and Hopi Nation economy, employment, and energy away from dependence on fossil fuel extraction and onto a sustainable renewable energy path.

Bob Gough, Intertribal Council on Utility Policy (COUP), Rosebud, South Dakota – Indigenous Nations in the U.S. heartland have launched an unprecedented drive to harness the inexhaustible wind resources of the Great Plains, to generate renewable power to build sustainable reservation economies and help stop global warming. Wind capacity on the Indigenous lands in the U.S. is over 535 billion kilowatt hours/year, with most of that coming from the Great Plains. That’s enough energy to produce one-seventh of America's electricity.

Moderated by Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network, Minnesota, USA

Sponsored by: The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN)/International Indian Treaty Council (IITC)