livelihoods and cultural survival. Climate change threatens their rights to self-determination, development, food, water, land and culture, among others. Efforts to prevent, mitigate and adapt to climate change could also threaten their rights. The production of biofuels can lead to land– grabbing, and displacement; and the construction of hydroelectric dams and other renewable energy projects can cause displacement and ecological damage. These activities should not be permitted without the consent of potentially affected indigenous peoples. Prime Minister Enele Sosene Sopoaga further emphasized the importance of ensuring that people are able to “continue to enjoy and practice their own cultural and traditional practices, and their own traditional ways of life.” Panellists also stressed the potential applications of indigenous practices for climate mitigation and adaptation. According to Ms. Tauli-Corpuz, “indigenous peoples’ knowledge increases the effectiveness of adaptation measures.” Similarly, the IPCC has found that “indigenous, local and traditional knowledge systems and practices, including indigenous peoples’ holistic view of community and environment, are a major resource for adapting to climate change.”49 By empowering indigenous peoples and guaranteeing them control over their traditional knowledge, lands, territories and resources, as called for in UNDRIP, States can simultaneously improve climate mitigation and adaptation efforts and the situation of indigenous peoples. According to Hilal Elver, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, women’s and indigenous peoples’ knowledge of biodiversity and agro-ecology should inform climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. This will empower and benefit affected persons, guarantee their participation in relevant decision-making processes, and make them part of the climate solution. The rights of future generations “Climate justice requires that States look beyond their responsibility to their own people, to accept their responsibility to those living beyond their shores, who are particularly vulnerable to climate change. And also, to the generations to come.” Mary Robinson, President, Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice The rights of children are protected by the CRC but the rights of future generations (in the sense of generations yet unborn) are not formally recognised in this or other major human rights instruments. Nevertheless, a strong argument in favour of the rights of future generations can be made on the basis of the human rights principle of equity and a number of multi-lateral environmental agreements. The Stockholm Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment stated that “defend[ing] and improve[ing] the human environment for present and future generations has become an imperative goal for mankind” and that “man has the fundamental right to freedom, equality and adequate conditions of life, in an environment of a quality that permits a life of dignity and well-being, and he bears a solemn responsibility to protect and improve the environment for present and future generations”.50 49 IPCC, AR5, p. 19. United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm: United Nations, 1972). 50 Page 24 of 28