The Centre For Citizens With Disabilities (CCD) has called for better policy and legal framework on disability rights and climate change.

This was made known at the presentation of a research report on Disability-Inclusive Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation by a team, led by a senior lecturer in the Department of Insurance and Risk Management, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Dr Queensley Chukwudum.

CCD’s Acting Director, Godwin Unumeri, said the presentation was supported by the Disability Rights Fund (DRF). He said it was organised to share findings of the research which was informed by the need to understand challenges experienced by Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), their coping strategies, and how the state government can include them in formulating climate change policies and interventions.

Speaking during the event, held at Rapha Hotel, Umuahia, the Abia state capital, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Joy Maduka, listed some of things the state government had already done and intended to do to forestall the negative impact of climate change, and also promote disability-inclusive climate change adaptation and mitigation.

In her address read by Chris Ike, the Director of Climate Change in the ministry, Maduka said the government’s actions and intents included establishment of a climate change department, approval by Governor Alex Otti of an 11-point Climate Change Road Map for the state, and conduct of a Climate Vulnerability Assessment towards articulating climate change challenges in the 17 local councils of the state.

In her presentation, Chukwudum described the report as a baseline comprehensive assessment of the specific needs, barriers, and opportunities for PWDs in the context of climate variability and extreme events.

On disability and climate change inclusive strategies, she said an extremely poor result was obtained and that four per cent individuals participated in capacity-building or knowledge-sharing activities.