A group of New Zealanders is fighting for those with disabilities to have more of a voice and proper support at UN climate conferences.
Greens co-leader James Shaw also addressed the disability issues event held on the side of the COP27 summit in Egypt, which was hosted by the SustainedAbility Disability & Climate Network.
Activate Co-Directors, Kera Sherwood-O’Regan and Jason Boberg spoke to Radio New Zealand reporter, Hamish Cardwell, about disability inclusion while attending the United Nations Climate Conference, COP27, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Both are involved in the SustainedAbility Disability and Climate Network (SDCN), a network of Disabled Peoples’ Organisations, NGOs, and disabled activists advocating for disability-inclusive climate action. The network has been incubated by Activate Agency, as part of our commitment to social impact, and this year it hosted an official side event as part of the conference programme.
New Zealand Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw, provided a video address, supporting the SDCN’s calls for a Disability Constituency and a Disability Action Plan within the UNFCCC.
Speakers addressed the importance of disability inclusion and the cross-constituency efforts at the UNFCCC, and included Ms. Pratima Gurung, of the National Indigenous Disabled Women’s Association of Nepal; Janna Merkelbach of the Climate Action Network; Dr Graeme Reed, co-chair of the Indigenous Peoples’ Constituency, alongside Jason Boberg, and Kera Sherwood-O’Regan who moderated the panel.