UNFCCC

Words that didn’t make the cut: What happened to Indigenous rights at COP27 - Mongabay

Words that didn’t make the cut: What happened to Indigenous rights at COP27 - Mongabay

Kera Sherwood-O’Regan spoke to reporter Dimitri Selibas of international conservation news outlet, Mongabay, following the conclusion of the COP27 United Nations Climate Negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

With negotiations ending two days past due, many Indigenous leaders, who often don’t have a lot of funding and resources to take time away from their communities, had to leave before negotiations on Article 6 and loss and damage concluded, said Sherwood-O’Regan.

“I think we need to acknowledge the leadership of many parties within the Global South, but also within Indigenous and frontline communities who have fought for that and enabled that [loss and damage] fund and even enabled the language of loss and damage to enter into this UNFCCC space,” said Sherwood-O’Regan.

COP is inherently inaccessible - Jason Boberg in Legit News Nigeria

COP is inherently inaccessible - Jason Boberg in Legit News Nigeria

Activate Agency Creative Director, and Co-Founder of the SustainedAbility Disability and Climate Network, Jason Boberg features alongside other SDCN Network members in Legit News’ coverage of the COP27 United Nations Climate Negotiations ongoing in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Boberg regularly engages with the UNFCCC process, advocating for more inclusive and accessible conferences to ensure equitable participation of people with disabilities. While every COP has its challenges, Boberg highlighted the particular challenges for wheelchair users; people with mobility impairments; and others navigating the large conference venue - the proliferation of newly constructed concrete curbs.

COP27 summit: NZ group lobbies for more disabled people's involvement

COP27 summit: NZ group lobbies for more disabled people's involvement

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.

U.N. climate talks have 'failed the people', activists say - Reuters

U.N. climate talks have 'failed the people', activists say - Reuters

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.