A delegation from the European Disability Forum is attending COP29 to stress that the UN and climate negotiators are not doing enough to include persons with disabilities and their concerns.
The delegation, led by Executive Committee Member Nadia Hadad, will especially demand that the UNFCC stops blocking the creation of a disability constituency (similar to the constituencies that other groups formed) mostly due to bureaucratic reasons. This is weakening the capacity of the global disability movement to be heard, to meaningfully participate, and to have its concerns addressed.
These concerns are even more important as not only persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by climate change, but they risk being excluded if solutions are not disability-inclusive.
The delegation will advocate for other pressing issues, including:
- Ensuring accessibility in all climate-related initiatives, specially built infrastructure, mass transport, livelihood, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in climate-related sectors.
- Meaningfully include persons with disabilities through their representative organisations and addressing their issues when developing instruments such as the Nationally Determined Contributions, the New Collective Quantified Goal and the Loss and Damage Fund, among others.
- Ensuring climate policies include persons with disabilities, highlighting the barriers they face, and foresee solutions, in line with States’ obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- The need to pay special attention to the specific needs of women with disabilities, young people with disabilities, persons with disabilities from underrepresented groups (such as persons with intellectual disabilities, psychosocial disabilities or with high support needs) and persons with disabilities that are part of other minority groups such as Indigenous persons with disabilities, racialised persons with disabilities or LGBTQ+ persons with disabilities.
The delegation will also organise and participate in side-events about inclusive climate action and human rights, including the side-event “No climate justice without civic space and meaningful participation” with Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and human rights defenders.
Nadia Hadad, European Disability Forum’s Executive Committee member and head of the delegation, said:
“It’s unbelievable that, after so many years, we still have to fight to be heard and for our issues to be taken into account. The UN and the State Parties need to obey the Treaties they ratified and finally establish a disability constituency within the UNFCC.”
Additional Information
UNFCCC Constituencies: The UNFCCC is the UN body is charge of negotiations around climate change. Constituencies are formally recognised groups of civil society actors reunited around a common topic. They join groups of stakeholders who share common interests or goals regarding climate action. These constituencies typically include various NGOs, civil society groups, indigenous peoples, and other representatives who advocate for specific issues related to climate change. Constituencies work together to provide input, raise awareness, and influence negotiations at UNFCCC meetings, ensuring that diverse perspectives and voices are considered in climate policy discussions. What we are advocating for is the creation of a Disability Constituency to have the same rights as other constituencies to access documents, influence decisions, outcomes, etc. This would empower the disability movement, bringing recognition and visibility and allowing persons with disabilities to meaningfully participate in the official UNFCCC system.
Related information
- Global disability movement demands seat at the “COP table”
- International Disability Alliance and International Disability and Development Consortium “Integrating disability rights into climate action – now!“
Contacts
Gordon Rattray
Programme Coordinator