Katherine Lofts

Individuals with disabilities have long faced disproportionate economic disadvantages, including higher poverty rates, poorer health outcomes, limited access to education, and restricted employment opportunities compared to those without disabilities. The green economy, characterized by low carbon emissions, resource efficiency, and social inclusivity, holds the potential to address these persistent inequities by creating jobs that promote income equality and support sustainable livelihoods. However, despite the growing global shift toward carbon neutrality, there is a significant gap in understanding the challenges and opportunities faced by persons with disabilities in this transition. This scoping review aims to assess the current state of knowledge regarding the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the green economy, with a particular focus on the Global North. Literature published between 2012 and 2023 was systematically reviewed, resulting in the identification of 21 relevant studies from an initial pool of 4,311 abstracts. The findings were categorised into three primary themes: conceptual frameworks for inclusion in the green economy, the role of persons with disabilities as workers, and the role of persons with disabilities as consumers. The results underscore a critical lack of literature addressing disability inclusion in green economic development, with existing studies indicating that persons with disabilities have been systemically marginalized in efforts to foster low-carbon economies. This exclusion represents a missed opportunity to harness the talents, perspectives, and contributions of persons with disabilities, whether as workers, consumers, or agents of change in sustainable development. It is therefore imperative that the experiences and epistemologies of persons with disabilities are central to the design, planning, and implementation of green economy initiatives. Future research must address the existing gaps in the literature and explore strategies for fostering greater inclusion in green economic frameworks to ensure equitable opportunities for all individuals in the transition to a carbon-neutral world.

Cet article interroge le rôle que peut jouer le droit du handicap dans la lutte au changement climatique. En nous appuyant sur la Convention des Nations Unies relative aux droits des personnes handicapées, nous précisons les obligations des États envers les personnes handicapées dans le domaine des changements climatiques. Nous expliquons également que la vulnérabilité accrue des personnes handicapées dans la crise climatique résulte de l’interaction entre les incapacités des individus et les barrières institutionnelles, économiques, comportementales et environnementales auxquels ils sont confrontés dans la société. Nous présentons ensuite les résultats d’une analyse systématique de la protection des droits des personnes handicapées dans le contexte des politiques climatiques adoptées autour du monde. Enfin, nous terminons par une présentation des contentieux climatiques liés aux droits des personnes handicapées. Nous suggérons que des solutions climatiques inclusives du handicap sont non seulement essentielles pour protéger les droits et la dignité des personnes handicapées, mais qu’elles pourraient permettre à une plus grande partie de la population de contribuer à l’émergence de sociétés sobres en carbone et d’améliorer leur résilience climatique.