Uniting Indigenous Knowledge and Science to Address Climate ChangeCEFR B1
26 Nov 2025
Adapted from Liam Anderson, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Daniel Granja, Unsplash
AI-assisted adaptation of the original article, simplified for language learners.
Sineia Do Vale, a prominent climate scientist, advocates for integrating Indigenous traditional knowledge with scientific practices to combat climate change effectively. During COP30, she highlighted that Indigenous peoples hold critical insights into managing their territories and adapting to extreme weather events. Their close relationship with nature enables them to observe changes through natural indicators, such as the behavior of plants and animals, which signal issues like drought or flooding.
Moreover, in Roraima, severe wildfires have devastated local ecosystems, causing irreparable harm to biodiversity and traditional livelihoods. Do Vale stresses the urgency of ensuring Indigenous participation in climate policy discussions and securing funding for their initiatives, as they play a vital role in both mitigation and adaptation strategies.
The goal is to create equitable policies that allow Indigenous peoples to implement effective climate adaptation measures while safeguarding their knowledge and communities.
.Difficult words
- advocate — to publicly support something strongly.advocates
- integrate — to combine two or more things into a whole.integrating
- insights — deep understanding of a situation or problem.
- biodiversity — variety of different species in an area.
- mitigation — actions to reduce or lessen effects.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can integrating Indigenous knowledge improve climate policies?
- What are some traditional practices that could help in climate adaptation?
- Why is it important to support Indigenous communities in climate discussions?
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