Activate Impact Director, Kera Sherwood-O’Regan is the featured interview on RNZ Saturday Morning following her BBC 100 Women recognition. She speaks with Susie Ferguson about the systemic causes of climate change, Indigenous & Disability rights, living with Fibromyalgia, and how her whānau and upbringing shaped her activism.
Speaking on the intersecting systems of oppression that produce climate change and harm communities, Kera uses her table-top analogy to highlight how meaningful solutions to climate change must address root causes, and in doing so can create positive outcomes not only for the environment, but for human rights as well.
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.
Our Impact Director, Kera Sherwood-O’Regan was interviewed by UC Boulder journalist, Lisa Marshall on climate change and its impacts on Indigenous and disabled communities.
“Everyone has the right to be rescued, but in many areas around the world, civil defense planning doesn’t account for disabled people”
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.
