Contribution of Indigenous People to the impending crisis of Climate Change: A Study in Tribal Odisha

Abstract

For centuries, the Indigenous population has been the custodian of this Planet and has lived in harmony with nature. They were skilled in the art of existing with mother earth instead of harming it. Up until the early 21st century, Indigenous people were even looked down upon as sufferers of climate change rather as defenders of the environment. But in reality, developing the science and knowledge of the impact that climate change has on the lives of these people, can actually help develop the policies, plans and programmes that can combat and reduce the effects of global warming. Their representatives have in fact been energetically looking forways to combat the climate crisis by active participation in various environmental conferences and involvement both regionally and nationally since 2008. This paper asserts that the Indigenous population, particularly forest inhabitants, have a chief role in fighting the impending crisis of climate. They have reorganized the potential that they have in making decisions at global and local levels that may play a part in saving our earth.