Indigenous Diplomacy and Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ Representation in Climate Negotiations

Background: The increasing formal recognition of Indigenous Arctic peoples' organizations as permanent participants within Arctic Council structures and their growing visibility in international climate negotiations since 2021 has prompted scholarly attention to evolving models of Indigenous diplomatic representation within multilateral environmental governance frameworks. Aims/objectives: This research examines how Arctic Indigenous peoples' organizations have leveraged formal and informal diplomatic channels to influence climate policy outcomes affecting their territories and livelihoods. Method: A qualitative case study approach was employed, drawing on Arctic Council permanent participant statements, United Nations climate conference proceedings, and interviews with Indigenous diplomatic representatives covering the 2021 to 2024 period. Results: Findings indicate that Indigenous organizations achieved meaningful procedural inclusion and increased visibility for traditional ecological knowledge within climate science discussions, though translation of procedural access into binding policy commitments addressing Arctic-specific climate impacts remained limited relative to advocacy efforts invested. Coalition-building with small island developing states amplified shared climate justice framing. Conclusion: The study concludes that Indigenous diplomatic representation has expanded substantively in procedural terms within multilateral environmental governance, yet substantive policy influence remains constrained by structural power asymmetries inherent in state-centric international institutions. Strengthening binding consultation requirements is recommended to translate procedural inclusion into meaningful policy outcomes for Indigenous communities.

Keywords: Indigenous diplomacy, Arctic peoples, climate negotiations, traditional ecological knowledge, environmental governance