The IPCC ‘Monoculture’ of Western Science is Becoming an ‘Ecosystem’ With Indigenous Knowledges

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has historically underrepresented Indigenous Knowledges (IK) and scholars in its Assessment Reports. This marginalisation overlooks the valuable insights IK offers for managing ecosystems, freshwater systems, food security, and community health in the face of climate change. Here, we highlight contributions from Indigenous-gathered advice to the Australian Government, showcasing IK’s role in climate monitoring, adaptation, and mitigation. We describe existing research that involved Indigenous-led ‘yarns’ with 70 knowledge holders with cultural connections to 43 traditional Countries and/or language groups from across most states and territories in Australia. In March 2025, the IPCC’s call for author nominations for Assessment Report 7 included a deliberate focus on IK and Indigenous Lead Authors. This shift, driven by internal and external advocacy, marks a significant step towards inclusivity and, more importantly, a deeper understanding of global climate science that sets a promising precedent for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP30 in Brazil.