Climate Change Crises: Centering vulnerable people in our response

The statement highlights that persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by climate change due to systemic discrimination and barriers to emergency services. It critiques South Africa's current climate frameworks for lacking specific details on accessible infrastructure and tailored adaptation measures, calling for the integration of disability-inclusive design and representation in decision-making processes.

• Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by climate change, with approximately 80% of the more than one billion persons with disabilities globally residing in the Global South.
• Climate change risks for persons with disabilities are exacerbated by socio-economic factors and physical barriers, including limited access to evacuation routes, emergency services, and recovery options. UNICEF reports that these groups are particularly susceptible to unsafe living conditions, water scarcity, and food shortages.
• An assessment of the government's response to the April 2022 flood disaster in KwaZulu-Natal revealed that many affected persons with disabilities had limited or no access to routine care and primary health care.
• While South Africa's National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (2020) and the Climate Change Act provide broad frameworks for vulnerable populations, they lack specific details on accessible communication systems, infrastructure, and adaptation measures tailored to the mobility or healthcare needs of persons with disabilities during heatwaves or floods.
• Achieving a disability-inclusive society in the context of the climate crisis requires the adoption of universal design for infrastructure, support for sustainable livelihoods in the green economy, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Just Transition decision-making processes.

APA

Matte (2024). Climate Change Crises: Centering vulnerable people in our response. Centre for Environmental Rights. https://cer.org.za/news/climate-change-crises-centering-vulnerable-people-in-our-response

Chicago

Matte. Climate Change Crises: Centering vulnerable people in our response. Centre for Environmental Rights, 2024. https://cer.org.za/news/climate-change-crises-centering-vulnerable-people-in-our-response.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Matte |title=Climate Change Crises: Centering vulnerable people in our response |publisher=Centre for Environmental Rights |date=3 December 2024 |url=https://cer.org.za/news/climate-change-crises-centering-vulnerable-people-in-our-response |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{matte2024climate, author = {Matte}, title = {{Climate Change Crises: Centering vulnerable people in our response}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://cer.org.za/news/climate-change-crises-centering-vulnerable-people-in-our-response}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }