Lay summary
This proposal is stage one of an anticipated larger project addressing anthropogenic climate change and tāngata whaikaha Māori, in the absence of visibility about, and preparation for, the disproportionate burden of life-threatening emergencies and slow onset health impacts on whānau whaikaha. Persons with disabilities are disparately impacted by climate change, and, according to international experts, the window for action is “rapidly closing”.
One in four Māori identify as tāngata whaikaha, compared to one in nine non-Māori. Structural disadvantage across multiple indicators results in tāngata whaikaha experiencing amplified inequity compared to non-disabled Māori and non-Māori disabled people. Yet there is a observable lack of substantive, urgent and rights-based adaptation and mitigation action.
Taking an epistemic justice approach, this application proposes a research development project that centres the mana motuhake of tāngata whaikaha and their whānau whānui in averting an unjust transition.