COP28: persons with disabilities still excluded from climate change solutions

28.11.2023

Andre Felix

Climate Action

The European Disability Forum will participate in COP28 to highlight shortcomings in climate action strategies regarding the rights of persons with disabilities. These solutions and plans are often not disability-inclusive, due to a lack of involvement of persons with disabilities in their development.

The best way to reduce the disproportionate impact of climate change on persons with disabilities is to fight against climate change. In this, we stand clearly with the climate movement on the need for a sustainable future.

In addition, we call on governments and activists to include the concerns of persons with disabilities in the discussion. We need to ensure measures are accessible and inclusive of persons with disabilities. There is also a need to act immediately to ensure the safety of persons with disabilities during climate-related disasters.

The European Disability Forum will use its participation to share the main message of the International Disability Alliance’s recently launched position paper. We will call on governments to ensure that:

Accessibility is integrated from the beginning into all aspects of green and resilient infrastructure investments, programmes and initiatives to ensure the elimination of obstacles and barriers in the built environment, and information, communications and other services.
Just Transition is achieved in an inclusive, affordable, and sustainable manner and includes persons with disabilities.
The first Global Stocktake plays a key role in strengthening the inclusion of persons with disabilities in climate change.
Persons with disabilities participate meaningfully and effectively in all phases of all relevant policies, commitments, and processes related to the implementation of climate change policies, such as the Paris Agreement, the Loss and Damage Fund, and the Just Transition Work Programme.
Persons with disabilities are prioritised by the Parties, and their rights are included in their 2030 and 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions, including reference to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the contexts of both climate adaptation and climate mitigation.
The Loss and Damage Fund will respect the international commitments to promote the human rights of persons with disabilities (such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).

Nadia Hadad, our Executive Committee member and delegation leader, said:

Persons with disabilities are one of the first groups to suffer due to climate-related disasters. We are also often excluded from solutions to mitigate it, which can be inaccessible, discriminating, and can segregate persons with disabilities. Leaders need to ensure a “nothing without us” approach, where persons with disabilities are actively involved in decisions!