In the lead up to this week’s UN climate conference COP27, Disability Rights UK has started discussions on how to achieve inclusive climate change. A round table meeting including disability and climate campaigners was chaired by DR UK in October. It was joined by activists from the UK, New Zealand, Ireland, and Egypt.
The purpose of the round table was to raise the voice of Disabled people within climate change discussions. For far too long, the impact of climate change on us has been ignored. We are amongst those most "adversely affected in an emergency", according to The United Nations Human Rights Council. emergencies - from new pandemics to environmental disasters - are likely to become more frequent as the climate crisis worsens.
The DR UK led coalition, highlighted the main climate emergencies that will affect Disabled people more than any other community. The Coalition also agreed inclusive climate policies, that have now been presented in a climate change statement, which is being shared with major players at COP27.,
The round table discussed the lack of input Disabled people have in shaping environmental solutions and the poor accessibility of major climate conferences such as COP 26 held in Glasgow last year.
That COP event looked at inclusive designs for climate resilient cities but the event was criticised for its lack of access for Disabled people. Israeli minister Karine Elharrar was unable to access the event in her wheelchair, and the event failed to provide any sign language interpretation on broadcasts and webcasts.
Policy and campaigns officer Dan White said “Historically Disabled people have always been left out of the conversations around issues that affect us the most and climate change appears to be the latest. If the environment is going to change, then we must have a say in how that happens, we must be able to represent ourselves and we must be at the top tables, starting with Cop27.”
Read the DR UK Climate Change statement, it can also be downloaded below.
