A key dimension of human capital is local understanding of climate risk, which includes knowledge systems outside Western scientific approach- es. For millennia, local communities have relied heavily upon culturally accumulated Indigenous knowledge, participating in landscapes as stewards of their environment, engaged in profoundly detailed liveli- hood strategies that deal with natural hazards . Indigenous knowledge systems are embedded in culture, and are passed from generation to generation in various ways: livelihoods, tradi- tions, spiritual practices and oral tradition, cultural identity and historical memory. Indigenous knowledge is known or learnt from experience, or acquired through observation and practice, and handed down from gen- eration to generation. It is acknowledged that Indigenous communities, particularly those in hazard-prone areas, have developed a profound un- derstanding and knowledge of disaster prevention and mitigation, early warning, preparedness and response, and post-disaster recovery. Indige- nous knowledge systems, themselves, are an indispensable dimension of capacity for adaptation, and where threatened represent a major risk to Indigenous communities. While still robust among Indigenous Peoples in many parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America, Indigenous knowledge is not well reflected or incorporated in assessments such as this, and stands in danger of being lost as its custodians are passing away.
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report