Sue Porter

What we are studying

There has been very little written which explores the impact of climate change in relation to certain marginalised groups, including disabled people. Recent research suggests that those groups who are socially disadvantaged, such as disabled people and users of mental health services, are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. For marginalised populations, the climate discourses around adaptation, mitigation, vulnerability and resilience are of particular importance.

We have undertaken a short scoping study to map out the issues, associated relevant literature and formulated pertinent research questions. This included conversations with relevant voluntary organisations, NGOs, environmental groups and groups of disabled people who may offer useful insights into the issues raised.

The study will finish in June 2012.

What we have found so far

A culture of neglect

Reports of recent disasters, including those high profile ones in Japan (the 2011 earthquake and tsunami) and America (hurricane Katrina), tell of disabled people having been neglected, both in emergency planning and in the rescue efforts, and many disabled people dying as a result of this failure to include them. This exclusion can be seen as direct discrimination, based in ableist attitudes which assume, and plan for, a non disabled population.

More recently both Japan and the US have established initiatives to involve disabled people’s organisations, and other community groups, in developing emergency plans and training staff such as planners and rescue crews.

Experiences of discrimination 

Research suggests that disabled people’s experience of discrimination extends to being viewed not as contributors of knowledge and insight, but only as a vulnerable group. Yet disabled people may have more to offer the debate around climate change from their different lived experiences, particularly around the idea of resources (both external resources and their own internal resources), which means that they may have a much more nuanced approach to conceiving of ‘limitedness’.

Environmental/sustainability organisations have pointed out the problem of ‘mainstream’ views about ‘limitlessness’ – of resources, energy and consumption, and the need to change attitudes if we are to challenge this ‘addictive’ behaviour.

Lifestyle and independent living

Assumptions are made that everyone can be asked to make the same changes in their lifestyle. These ableist assumptions can lead to disabled people feeling pressured to reduce energy consumption, even when their particular needs require heating or cooling to maintain even temperatures, access to motorised transport, or to lifts etc in order to live independent lives.

Some disabled people with acquired impairments have also reported feeling excluded from their previous involvement in environmental campaigns, for example because of their growing dependence on the car rather than cycling. 

Interdependence

The experience of being in need and in receipt of care, which requires an interdependence with others, may also equip disabled people to contribute to the debates around sustainability and our relationship with the environment. Disability studies scholar Erik Leipoldt proposed that ‘the disability perspective of interdependence is a practical guide from the margins for making new choices that may lead to a just and sustainable world—a concept that reduces the distance between each other and our environment’ (Leipoldt).

Current debates around co-production, including Right to Control, Timebanks and other forms of mutuality, emphasise learning from and with each other, although the mind-shift required to accept the concept of meaningful interdependence can be challenging to organisations and individuals who have previously seen caring and dependence as one-way processes where there are separate and distinct givers and receivers.

Individual or structural change?

One way of conceptualising issues for both the environment and disability is to compare the debates around medical / social models of disability with the debate as to whether it is changes to individual lifestyles and/or social structures which are required to protect the environment.

Contact us

We would be very interested to hear from you as a voluntary or disabled-led organisation, or as an interested individual considering these issues.

Please feel free to email us at: sue.porter@bristol.ac.uk

Sue Porter is a Research Fellow at the Norah Fry Research Centre, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol

Tel: 0117 3310993