The new UK Government has made several announcements on the climate crisis, with a push for clean energy by 2030, no new coal licences – a ban on fracking and a new windfall tax on oil and gas giants. With Ed Miliband spearheading the UK’s efforts at this year's COP Conference on climate change, we hope the concerns of Disabled people will at long last have space on the agenda.
A recently released report, published by 408 climate scientists, warns that “Any leader who doesn’t make stronger climate action a priority will place the prosperity and wellbeing of the British people at severe risk.” This warning followed a call for action from 186 conservation scientists, who urged all party leaders, to pledge to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 via a new, whole-government approach to tackling the ecological emergency.
In recent years, DR UK has led discussions on the effects of a changing climate on the Disabled community and highlighted the dire impacts, should Disabled people not be given a voice in policy making. Through our extensive climate work, DR UK has repeatedly tried to make UK political leaders aware that Disabled people are at very severe risk, from the consequences of environmental change.
For example, Disabled people are often unable to leave our homes and reach safety in the event of evacuation due to extreme weather, leading to disproportionate injury and loss of life. Disabled people are twice as likely as any other group to die in disasters. Environmental pollution, such as air pollution is a major cause of ill health: creating childhood disability, impairing children's health, diminishing their capacity to learn and reducing their life chances. Climate change is increasing the numbers of Disabled people.
The letter DR UK sent to the secretary of State says that “Disabled populations will most likely have limited access to knowledge, resources, and services to effectively respond to environmental change.” And that “Disabled people are currently excluded from discussions and solutions on climate change, meaning that laws, policies, and programmes don’t consider the needs of Disabled people or the impact of proposed change. This is referred to as “Eco-Ableism"
The letter also adds that “It is vital that the voices of Disabled people are heard, and that our ideas, solutions, and representations are included and given weight. As a Disabled people’s organisation, we ask you to engage with us on all aspects of climate change, to allow us a seat at the main table for equalities, policy and lived experiences sake. With our lived experience, contacts, policy solutions and passion we hope you can break the cycle of governmental silence and allow us to help shape the future.”
Dan White policy and campaigns officer at DR UK, and one of the leads on disability and climate work said: “The previous UK Government acknowledged that very little work had been done to explore issues on resilience-building for people with disabilities, in the context of longer-term climatic and environmental change, and so we have written to the recently elected UK Government in the hope that any new vision for the department will include building collaboration with Disabled peoples organisations such as ours who have been campaigning and leading on this subject for the past three years.”
“As leaders in this area, we have been working with Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and NPC with whom we are actively collaborating on the Everyones Environment programme. We also have a coalition of Disabled environmental campaigners from around the world. A constructive relationship with the new UK Government is essential if there is to be change and the needs of Disabled people are to be addressed.”