Moving from „best available science“ to „best available knowledge“

The IDOS co-convened UNFCCC side event called for greater recognition of indigenous and local forms of knowledge in climate governance processes.

The event took place on 16 June 2026 and examined epistemological shifts needed for genuine inclusion of indigenous and local forms of knowledge in multilateral climate governance processes.

Speakers from CIPRED, the FWG, the COP30 Presidency and the Belmont Forum detailed how transdisciplinary research can be redesigned to engage knowledge holders as epistemic authorities. IDOS researcher Niklas Wagner highlighted the Global Stocktake’s potential to institutionalise this shift, moving from „best available science“ toward „best available knowledge“ through bottom-up deliberative mechanisms such as citizens assemblies.

Across the discussions, three main barriers were emphasised: financial constraints limiting indigenous community access to research funding; epistemological hierarchies privileging peer-reviewed science over intergenerational knowledge systems; and institutional designs excluding indigenous voices from governance protocols.

For overcoming these barriers, final recommendations centred creating submission pathways for non-written knowledge forms and securing indigenous representation in technical decision-making processes within UNFCCC mechanisms.