The Activate team have been on the ground in Madrid for the COP25 United Nations Climate Negotiations, supporting civil society and Indigenous Peoples organisations advocating for climate justice.
Activate Creative Director and Co-Founder of the SustainedAbility Disability and Climate Network, Jason Boberg, spoke on behalf of the disabled community at “The People’s Plenary”, an event organised across civil society to give voice to communities and campaigners in the critical final hours of the conference.
His comments were included in the round-up by Reuters reporter, Megan Rowling;
Jason Boberg, a New Zealand disability rights campaigner and filmmaker, told the people’s assembly those with disabilities faced serious threats from climate change.
“From fires and power shut-offs in California to floods and other disasters, disabled people... are the first to be left behind and the first to die,” he said.
Speakers criticized the reluctance of wealthy governments to provide financial support for people left hungry, water-short and homeless by worsening extreme weather and rising seas.
And some decried plans to expand carbon emissions trading markets to include forests without guarantees the schemes would reduce emissions or protect local people’s rights.
“Our forests are not for sale,” said Ibrahim from Chad.