A Disability Rights Approach to Climate Governance

On CRDPs and CRPD: why the rights of people with disabilities are crucial for understanding climate-resilient development pathways

“…50 Disabilityinclusive climate action that seeks to overturn social injustices and shift mindsets and discriminatory policy, can foster a type of climateresilient development that is accessible to a greater share of the population at large. 58 The human rights model of disability enshrined in the CRPD reflects an intersectional approach, which takes into account how people can be marginalised through multiple forms of discrimination, including along lines of gender, ethnicity, or age. The convergence of discrimination along several social axes could therefore lead to a double invisibility, such as of disabled children or women, in disaster reduction efforts or climate change adaptation.…”

“…The convergence of discrimination along several social axes could therefore lead to a double invisibility, such as of disabled children or women, in disaster reduction efforts or climate change adaptation. 3,19,58 The CRPD makes a discursive contribution to confronting the social and political forces that shape vulnerability by treating disabled people not as an exclusive group different from the rest of society and requiring particular rights, but by including them in all human rights as a normal part of society. This shift alludes to a recognition of the diversity of all fellow human beings as forming the texture of society, rather than a legitimate reason for othering (defining others as different and less worthy) and exclusion.…”

“…Both the NMBU workshop and previous studies suggest that people with disabilities are often excluded from civil engagement beyond those specifically for them, with low representation in women's movements, climate activism, and research, for example. 17,58 In climate change research and policy, decision making authority is often vested in a narrow range of experts and policy makers, legitimised by particular types of knowledges, leading to technical rather than socially contextualised types of measures. 43 Nijs and Heylighen show how disability experience can transform to expertise and advocates recognising the situated knowledges that emerge from disability experience as legitimate knowledge.…”

Disability and climate change: A critical realist model of climate justice

“…Bodily impairments—such as hearing impairments, cognitive impairments, exacerbation of symptoms, and difficulties with thermal regulation—and activity limitations—such as difficulties with evacuation or with repairing or replacing adaptive equipment—increase the vulnerabilities of people with disabilities during preparedness, evacuation, and recovery (Aryankhesal et al., 2018; Gaskin et al., 2017; Lutgendorf et al., 1995). Healthcare services may be disrupted by extreme weather events, and assistive devices may be lost or damaged (Jodoin et al., 2020; UNHCHR, 2020). Some people have physical disabilities or chronic conditions that depend on reliable electrical power sources (e.g., respirators or dialysis machines), without which they are in lethal danger (Hemingway & Priestley, 2006; Kailes, 2009).…”

Número 18 completo (Ene-Jun 2021)

“…La vulnerabilidad también depende del nivel de desarrollo de los Estados y también a su situación geográfica, y también de los factores de clase, origen, edad y condición física de los ciudadanos (Climate Vulnerability Monitor, 2017). De este modo, en general, las personas con discapacidad son más vulnerables al cambio brusco de temperaturas, tienen menor capacidad de reacción ante eventos extremos debido a su dependencia a recursos tecnológicos y debido a las necesidades de distinta índole que necesitan para cubrir sus necesidades (Jodoin et al, 2020). Los adultos mayores y los menores (Clark et al, 2020) también son más vulnerables a temperaturas extremas y situaciones de cambios drásticos de temperatura.…”