November 11, 2024 
Baku, Azerbaijan 

Respectful Greetings, 

2024 has been the hottest year in recorded history, surpassing 1.5 degrees, and causing devastating  physical and spiritual losses and damages in our homelands. States have failed to take necessary  action to phase out fossil fuels and implement a Just Transition to sustainable, non-carbon-based  energy sources.  

At the same time, States are imposing false solutions enabled by Article 6, including geo-engineering,  as well as extraction of so-called transition minerals which do not reverse the climate crisis. We call  upon States to alter this destructive path which further violates our distinct rights and inevitably  leads to genocide and ecocide.  

Indigenous Peoples offer time-tested knowledge, practices, expertise, and science for protection of  soils, oceans and waters, plants, animals and seeds as solutions for adaptation and Just Transition.  We reiterate our call for direct, dedicated, simplified, equitable financing mechanisms for Indigenous  Peoples from all regions, including in the NCQG. This will support our initiatives for protection and  restoration of vital ecosystems.  

Indigenous women, children and youth are key for the transmission of climate-related knowledge.  We recognize the important role of the International Indigenous Youth Forum on Climate Change in  this regard.  

Finally, we reiterate the distinct status, rights and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and our call for  this and future COPs to stop combining the terms “Indigenous Peoples” and “local communities” in  all decisions, names of bodies and programs within the UNFCCC.  

We look forward to making real progress at COP 29 for our Peoples, future generations and the  planet we call our Mother.  

Thank you.