Indigenous groups win greater climate recognition at Bonn summit

World governments have acknowledged for the first time that 'first peoples' can play a leadership role in protecting forests and limiting global warming

Indigenous groups claimed a victory at the UN climate talks in Bonn on Wednesday as governments acknowledged for the first time that they can play a leadership role in protecting forests and keeping global temperatures at a safe level.

Long marginalised and often criminalised in their home countries, the "first peoples" - as they often refer to themselves - also achieved breakthroughs in terms of official international recognition of their rights, autonomy and participation in negotiations.