This briefing provides an overview of disability-specific provisions within the European Union’s climate policies under the European Green Deal and the newly introduced Competitiveness Compass. It also situates these policies within the broader international context, particularly the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, including the forthcoming revision of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The briefing examines how EU climate action intersects with the Union’s broader disability frameworks, highlighting both existing measures and critical gaps where further action is urgently needed to ensure an inclusive, rights-based green transition.
The briefing builds on findings from a recent study by the European Disability Forum, which assessed disability-inclusive provisions in the national climate policies of 13 countries across Europe and Central Asia. The study revealed limited recognition of the rights and requirements of persons with disabilities in national climate strategies, as well as a lack of coordination with disability policy.
Getting persons with disabilities at the climate action table
By shifting the focus to the EU level, this briefing aims to complement that analysis and provide a more complete picture of disability-inclusive climate action in Europe. It concludes with a set of concrete recommendations for policymakers on how the EU can strengthen disability inclusion in its climate policy framework, ensuring that the European Green Deal fulfils its core promise to “leave no one behind.”. Some of these recommendations are:
- Ensure mandatory inclusion of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in the upcoming Implementation Dialogues
- Strengthen the representation of persons with disabilities within the Climate Pact Ambassadors
- Ensure involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in all relevant EU-level policymaking and consultations, such as the EU Climate Pact and the European Climate and Energy Dialogue and Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement.
- Support the establishment of an official Disability Constituency within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change( UNFCCC) mechanism
Download our policy brief
Find more details on recommendations and conclusions in our full policy brief
(Word document) Rights of persons with disabilities and EU climate action – Policy Brief
(PDF document) Rights of persons with disabilities and EU climate action – Policy Brief
Contact
This document was prepared by Lorenzo Manca, Climate and Just Transition Consultant and supervised and edited by EDF Human Rights Coordinator, An-Sofie Leenknecht (ansofie.leenknecht@edf-feph.org).