Eco-ableism
Eco-ableism refers to ways in which disabled people are excluded from or not taken into account in climate activism and eco-friendly efforts, stemming from a lack of representation and consideration of those with disabilities. Ableism is deeply engrained in society and can be complicated to recognize, as it is often rooted in ignorance. In this page, we aim to point out some ways that eco-ableism can present itself and ways in which environmental justice, climate justice, and eco activism have caused harm by excluding the experience of people with disabilities. A term originally coined by Gregor Wolbring, it is now commonly used in conversations of disability and climate justice.
What is Eco-ableism?
What do terms "plastic-free" "walkable cities" "energy conservation" and "zero-waste" have to do with people with disabilities and environmental justice? Read the previews of the sections below and click the drop-down to learn more.
Food access
People with disabilities are more likely to face food insecurity, in addition to having different needs regarding purchasing, preparing, and consuming food. Environmental pushes to remove plastic packaging and pre-prepared foods often compromise the needs of disabled people. Climate change's effects on food systems are being felt inequitably by disabled communities.
Drop down to read more about food
While walking to the grocery store, using reusable shopping bags, buying in bulk to avoid plastics, shopping locally, and eating organic are seen as the most sustainable practices to obtain food, these actions are not always accessible. Many of these don't take into account the additional time, money, effort, transportation, and planning needed, which ostracizes and shames those who are not able to fulfill them. Food and grocery delivery services may be one solution for those who encounter difficulties grocery shopping. Especially in the midst of the pandemic, food delivery helps ensure that people who are immunocompromised or at higher risk did not have to leave their house. Physical transportation barriers are reduced, if not eliminated, when getting meals or groceries delivered, but can often be criticized for the dependence on cars and food-safe packaging that often consists of plastic.
Additionally, the food system and climate change are interconnected as industrialization and agribusinesses place increasing pressure on the environment through gas emissions, deforestation, and global transport of goods. At the same time, climate change negatively impacts food access by decreasing yields on farms, harming the natural environment, poisoning water sources, and killing off fish. These pressures can increase food insecurity, as disabled households are more likely to be food insecure than households without a disabled adult.
Transportation
Cars provide an avenue to independent living and mobility. Environmental pushes to bike, walk, or use public transportation exclude people who rely on their cars or are not able to use alternative modes of transportation. Cars are also an essential resource in case of emergencies and evacuations, especially considering the inconsistent and unsafe reliability of other forms of transportation for disabled people during a disaster.
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While a ban on cars or the implementation of fully walkable cities may be considered the "best" for the environment, for people who depend on cars for their transportation, this action could cause them to lose their ability to get around, compromising their independence, routine, and safety. In the event of an emergency evacuation, a car could mean the difference between life and death.
Electric cars, while seemingly better for the environment, have higher price tags and limited accessibility features. Some areas have emission restrictions, but must make exceptions for accessible vehicles, as there are not alternatives. Other "environmentally-friendly" options, such as walking or biking, are not attainable for many PWD and public transit is often unreliable, especially in situations of disasters.
"Certain people are, you know, advocating biking, which I can do, but I sometimes feel like if I’m on a bike too long, I start having issues in my hips or, you know, so there's just a lot of of… alternative options that, you know, people might urge people to take that just aren't as easily options for me." - Iris, one respondent of Disability Climate Justice Interviews
Quote from "Disability Climate Justice" interviews
"I think of my consumption habits as somewhat inflexible related to my disability, like I buy the flights that are gonna be direct so my chair doesn't get broken. I drive because it's easier for me. Like I think in other ways that people might change their consumption to be more climate conscious, I don't feel that I always have that flexibility."
– Margaret, respondent from Disability Climate Justice Interviews
Plastics
Environmental pushes to remove plastic packaging often compromise the needs of disabled people. From medications to food to packages, many daily necessities come wrapped in plastic. This makes it more sterile, sanitary, and safe and there are often no affordable environmentally-friendly swaps.
Drop down to read more about single-use plastic
Plastics are essential for many PWD as it can transport medications, keep equipment sterile, limit the need to wash reusable materials, and keep people from having to transport their own supplies (reusable straws, bags, etc.) Many mobility devices are made of plastic and there are very few "eco-friendly" alternatives to these items. Plastic replacements can be connected to various allergens, bacteria-transmitting materials, and expensive alternatives.
Plastic straws have been criticized (and banned in some U.S. states) by the environmental movement for their impact on waste and potential for harming animal life. Drinking straws are needed by some disabled people to be able to drink liquids, and many find plastic straws to be more convenient, pleasant, safe, and practical than metal or paper straws. Besides, the focus and anger over plastic straws often distracts from the bigger problems the world is facing as we tackle climate change.
Pre-packaged food, while often demonized by the zero-waste movement because it comes in plastic, is critical for some to be able to cook for themselves and eat more nutritious food. One criticism in recent years revolved around pre-peeled oranges (above screenshot).
Many people with disabilities express frustration on a reliance on plastic materials, but also recognize that even if they wanted to limit their usage, it is a matter of their health and safety. "There definitely are a lot of medical things I use that are disposal and made of plastic and you can’t recycle them or return them even. So, a lot of times, there's like suddenly the wrong shipment of stuff and then you can’t return it and you can’t really donate it... Even if you haven’t opened it, you can’t really do that. So, definitely a lot of waste, but, I mean, there’s not really an alternative." - Jack, one respondent of Disability Climate Justice Interviews.
Water & energy usage
Water and energy are basic needs that are often expensive and difficult to access. The climate crisis places pressure on access to these necessities and it can be life-threatening, particularly for disabled people when they do not have access.
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Vulnerable populations are more likely to have lower access to water, energy, and housing. This can have negative effects in terms of food insecurity, health and safety, and hygiene. People in low-income communities suffer from rising energy and fuel costs and people with disabilities often have especially high energy usage, whether by gasoline in their cars, electronic assistive devices, or home heating and cooling.
People with disabilities can be seen as "greedy" for their high energy usage, which puts blame on the individual for doing what they need to live comfortably and survive.
Natural & social spaces
Ableism and climate change are connected in their utilitarian view of bodies and the earth. As a result, people with disabilities are often excluded from both natural and social spaces.
Drop down to read more about natural and social spaces
Natural spaces are often not accommodating to people with mobility disabilities, but some activists are looking to change that. As many cities were built up without the participation of disabled people – purposefully leaving them out of societal design – they are more likely to be ableist and inaccessible.
Exclusion from being active change-makers in issues of environmental and climate justice (through policymaking, voting, and accessing protests) is also a way that disabled people are excluded from spaces and from decisions that impact their present and future.
"As a disabled person whose access needs don’t always align with the idealized “perfect” eco-friendly lifestyle, I’ve had a few too many interactions with individuals in the environmental activist community that left me feeling misunderstood and unwelcome. I know that I am not alone in this experience."
Combating eco-ableism
Remove skepticism. When someone with disabilities says that they cannot make a certain lifestyle change, they know their body best! This means "accepting a disabled person’s stated access needs without disbelief, invasive questions, or unsolicited feedback."
Organize and support accessible protests and conferences. Learn more about how in 2021, COP26, the largest environmental conference in the world, still had many physical barriers and wheelchair inaccessibility. See the "Accessible Activism" section of the Activism page.
Recognize the greater societal forces behind the "non eco-friendly" choices that people with disabilities must make. Read more about the risks involved with personal blame within disability climate change on the Responsibility page.
Learn directly from disability activists rather than assume what you think they may need. Learn more about some relevant activists, many of whom have inspired pieces of this website creation.
Invest in accessible local spaces and communities that help improve access to food, social opportunities, and political voice.
A just transition framework
A just transition framework recognizes that blanket solutions to combating climate change are not accessible to all. For a true just transition, there needs to be a re-evaluation of "legal standards, social protection, skills development and attitudinal transformation."
Using a just transition framework to combat eco-ableism means that nobody is left behind and that disabled people are meaningfully included and taken into consideration at every step of the decision-making process.
Sources Used & Suggested Reading
Ecohealth Through an Ability Studies and Disability Studies Lens - Gregor Wolbring, 2013. An academic paper where eco-ableism was coined through discussion on the link between health of people and health of the environment, utilizing disability studies frameworks.
Where Food Sustainability and Disability Clash - Jacqueline Raposo, 2022. A blog post highlighting the lived experiences of disabled people in accessing food.
Why people with disabilities are at greater risk of going hungry during the pandemic - Melissa Caldwell, 2021. A news article discussing the risk of food insecurity that people with disabilities face due economic, physical, and societal barriers.
Disability status can affect food security among U.S. households - USDA, 2022. A short summary of data from 2021 finding that households in the United States with adults with disabilities reported higher rates of food insecurity.
Eco-Ableism - with Elizabeth Wright and Syren Nagakyrie - You First Podcast, 2021. A 47-minute podcast episode in which multiple guests challenge eco-ableist beliefs in environmental spaces.
Straw Bans Are DANGEROUS For Disabled People [CC] - Annie Elainey, 2019. A 15-minute YouTube video explaining the fight against straw bans, as they are necessary medical devices.
The Rise and Fall of the Plastic Straw: Sucking in Crip Defiance - Alice Wong, 2019. A 12-page critical commentary piece criticizing straw bans and the ableism that ensued, citing various social media interactions and the hashtag #SuckItAbleism.
Energy Insecurity: A Framework for Understanding Energy, the Built Environment, and Health Among Vulnerable Populations in the Context of Climate Change - Diana Hernández, 2012. An academic article with a public health perspective on the effects of inconsistent access to energy on vulnerable populations.
Why are disabled people more vulnerable to rising energy costs and what should be done about it? - Prina Sumaria, 2022. A blog post exploring inequities in access to energy and what a just energy transition looks like.
Environmental hazard and disabled people: from vulnerable to expert to interconnected - Sue Porter, 2013. An academic article moving beyond a focus on vulnerabilities to explore how disabled people bring their lived experiences to disaster preparation and climate conversations, linking together commonalities between disability and climate movements.
Conservation, Eco-Ableism, and Reclaiming Limitations - Syren Nagakyrie, 2023. An article in which the author breaks down barriers to participation in outdoor activities (particularly hiking) and works to improve access for disabled people to take up space outdoors.
A Stake in the Fight: An Activist’s Take on Eco-Ableism - Leah Stagnone, 2023. A blog post with reflections on being a disabled activist, while also emphasizing that disability justice and environmental justice are interconnected.
Israel's energy minister couldn't enter COP26 because of wheelchair inaccessibility - Jonathan Franklin, 2021. An NPR news article showcasing the physical inaccessibility of COP26.
Whole Foods’ Pre-Peeled Oranges Sparked a Fascinating Argument - Michal Addady, 2016. A short article explaining the debate behind selling plastic-packaged oranges, in which some argued that it is harmful for the environment and others argued that it is necessary for some people with disabilities who cannot peel the fruit themselves.
Persons with disabilities in a just transition to a low-carbon economy - Maria Hasan, 2019. A 12-page PDF policy brief detailing what a just transition looks like for people with disabilities globally.
“Nothing about us without us” - Realizing disability rights through a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies - Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Branch (GEDI) & Green Jobs Programme, 2022. A 16-page PDF policy brief imploring a disability rights perspective to a just transition implementation in social dialogue, safety, and health.