Research has shown that governments around the world are “systematically ignoring” people with disabilities when it comes to the climate crisis, even though they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of severe weather.
The first comprehensive study showed that few countries take the needs of persons with disabilities into account in their regulations when developing plans to adapt to the effects of climate change or when formulating their programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Most vulnerable to climate change
The needs of people with disabilities are being ignored, says Sebastian Goodwin, a professor at McGill University in Canada, who co-authored a report on integrating disability into national climate change commitments and policies, published Friday.
I was very disappointed with our results. Countries have not considered how to include persons with disabilities in climate protection plans. They are being systematically ignored
. said Guardianic. It found that people with disabilities are among the most vulnerable to climate change, due in part to the nature of their disability and the social harm that often accompanies it.
They are among the most marginalized groups in our societies. They are usually poorer and have fewer resources.
They were trapped in buildings by hurricanes
He noted that persons with disabilities are already at risk from the climate crisis. For example, when Hurricane Katrina hit the United States in 2005, many wheelchair users were stranded in buildings because there were no plans to evacuate them and they could not use vehicles that had not been converted for this purpose.
When Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, many wheelchairs had the same problems. In response, a lawsuit was filed against PWD by the New York City leadership for neglecting them, and
Politicians are forced to provide public shelters that are easily accessible by wheelchairs.
Researchers at McGill University studied the detailed climate commitments and policy decisions, or so-called Nationally Determined Contributions, that countries must make under the 2015 Paris Agreement, which includes the inclusion of people with disabilities. combed by countries local adaptation plans Effects of the climate crisis.
