Every article written on the topic of climate change appears to begin in the same way: Global surface temperatures are rising, the ice sheets are shrinking, weather patterns are changing, and human behavior is likely to be the one to blame. While it is important to disseminate the research on topics such as climate change, the conversation needs to shift from talking about who has caused the overall warming to who is going to respond to the overall warming.
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a science that is focused primarily on improving specific behaviors and is one rooted in empirical research. ABA then applies these concepts to understand and work within human behavior. Within the field of ABA, over 70% of its professionals work with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While I believe that it is great that individuals with ASD are able to receive the services they need, I believe that there is more that our science can contribute to the scientific community.
Considering behavior analysis is specifically adapted to treat the contributing factors involved with a particular problem, there is perhaps no other scientific field that has more to contribute on this shift from who caused the overall warming to who is going to respond to the overall warming. In order to begin reversing the effects of climate change, large scale behavior change is required. Considering the field of behavior analysis utilizes and has refined the principles of behavior, I believe that this field would be in a great position to begin working within an interdisciplinary team to solve the overall problem of climate change.
To be a privileged individual is to live a life with a particular advantage, usually one that is not easily quantifiable. In addition, often times individuals living with privilege do not recognize their privilege whereas when the privilege is absent it seems to have an effect on everything you do. Take for example ableism, which is the discrimination against people with disabilities based on the idea that individuals without disabilities are in some way superior. Eco-ableism is the extension of ableism into the environmental movement from activists who fail to take disabled perspectives into account.
While climate change continues to act as a threat to all of us, it will certainly not affect all of us at an equal rate. When I began thinking about how the catastrophic weather events and climate change more broadly will affect individuals across the world, I started to wonder how disabled individuals, who according to the World Health Organization (WHO), make up 15% of the global population, would be impacted by climate change.
So, how does climate change affect disabled people?
Broadly speaking, individuals with disabilities are both socially and economically disadvantaged compared to individuals without disabilities because of a variety of systemic factors. In the event of a climate crisis, disabled individuals are in a much more vulnerable position than able-bodied individuals. For example, decisionmakers may exclude disabled individuals from preparation beforehand which can lead to difficulties if emergency warnings or evacuations are not designed with accessibility in mind. In the event of an evacuation due to a catastrophic weather event such as a hurricane or tsunami, individuals with disabilities may require access to early and specialized transportation to the evacuation site, continued physical, behavioral, and social support, and consistent access to medical care.
Changes in the Earth’s climate is a significant problem which must be managed rapidly because as the Earth continues to warm, these catastrophic weather events are expected to increase in both their frequency and magnitude. This will further necessitate the usage of additional supports for individuals with disabilities.
More research and planning are undoubtedly needed if proper solutions are to be made regarding the climate crisis, and I believe that the field of ABA can be a contributing component of those solutions. Further, it is imperative that any research, planning, or decision making must incorporate disabled populations to ensure these decisions are inclusive and accessible for all.
At the end of the day, climate change is a global problem and will require a global, interdisciplinary, and inclusive solution, and this solution must be found and acted upon soon, if we as a society hope to prevent the climate point of no return.
