HRC44 - NB8 statement - Panel discussion on climate change and persons with disabilities

Panel discussion on climate change and persons with disabilities

8 July 2020

Statement by Finland on behalf of the Nordic & Baltic countries

Madame Chair, Distinguished Panelists,

I have the honor of speaking on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries – Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and my own country Finland.

We would like to thank all the panelists for their insightful remarks and the OHCHR for the highly important analytical study on the rights of persons with disabilities in the context of climate change.

Climate change is an existential threat that spares no country, and impacts all persons on the planet. However – as the report and the discussion today clearly point out – persons with disabilities often face negative and severe impacts of climate change in a disproportionate way.

Especially women and girls with disabilities, as well as persons with disabilities that belong to minorities, face multiple and intersecting discrimination aggravated by climate change. Extreme conditions often place women with disabilities at even higher risk of being sexually exploited or physically abused.  Access to quality and affordable health services – including SRHR – is even more difficult in times of humanitarian disasters.

To combat climate change we need a societal transformation, in which it is key to also respect, protect and fulfil the rights of persons with disabilities. The rights to education, adequate housing, health, water and sanitation and other economic and social rights, as well as civil and political rights such as freedom of information, need to be ensured in a comprehensive way for all persons with disabilities in order for not to leave no one behind and for climate actions to be truly effective.

The Nordic-Baltic countries are strongly committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities are - not just heard - but closely involved in all planning, decision-making and implementation processes affecting them. It is therefore paramount, that persons with disabilities and DPOs are fully included in all climate actions.

Where are the biggest gaps as regards full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in global processes against the climate change? How could the newly adopted UN Disability Inclusive Strategy help in narrowing these gaps?