FAQ about climate change↓

Climate change is a long-term change in the weather patterns that usually occur in a given region. While the Earth’s climate is always changing over long periods of time, the pace of change has increased significantly in the past few decades. Global warming is one aspect of climate change. It refers to the rise in average global temperatures that has occurred since the early 20th century as a consequence of increasing concentrations of human-generated greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Climate change is likely to lead to increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as heat waves, fires, floods and droughts. While many severe weather events such as these can and already do occur dangerously quickly, other events and their effects can be slow-onset, including drought, economic stressors and climate-induced migration which lead to increased psychological distress and even generational trauma.

Human-generated greenhouse gas emissions are the leading cause of the earth’s rapidly changing climate. The burning of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil and gas) for electricity, heat and transportation releases greenhouse gases, which accumulate in the atmosphere, trapping energy from the sun and raising the temperature of the Earth. Other sources of greenhouse gas emissions include deforestation, livestock production, and certain agricultural practices.

Climate mitigation refers to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the stabilization of their levels in the atmosphere. It is accomplished by either reducing the source of emissions or by enhancing the “sinks” in which greenhouse gases are accumulated and stored. Mitigation efforts touch on a range of sectors, include energy generation and use, transportation, industry, agriculture, forestry, and waste management. Climate adaptation refers to actions taken to prepare for and adjust to both the current impacts of climate change and predicted future impacts, including extreme weather events (e.g., heat waves and typhoons) and slow-onset events (e.g., desertification and sea level rise). Adaptation measures can range from building flood defences, setting up early warning systems for cyclones, and switching to drought-resistant crops, to redesigning large-scale communication systems and government policies. A wide variety of measures are required to suit each community’s needs.

Climate adaptation policies concerning extreme weather events share a number of common objectives with disaster risk reduction (DRR) interventions, as both seek to manage exposure and reduce vulnerability to climate hazards. Climate adaptation policies tend to look at short-term as well as long-term climate risks, such as sea level rise, while DRR tends to focus on avoiding and responding properly to potential immediate extreme events. While the field of DRR has begun to take important steps towards greater inclusion and recognition of persons with disabilities – for example, through disability inclusive disaster risk reduction, and engagement of persons with disabilities in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and monitoring processes –work remains in developing a more coherent, comprehensive and coordinated approach to the relationship between disaster risk reduction and the inclusion of persons with disabilities in climate change adaptation planning.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty that aims to prevent dangerous human-induced climate change. The Convention came into force in 1994 and currently has 197 parties. The UNFCCC is the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. Under the UNFCCC, the Conference of the Parties (COP) is the highest decision-making body of the Convention. During the COP, which typically meets annually, Parties to the UNFCCC adopt decisions, review progress, and consider further action concerning the implementation of the Convention as well as other legal instruments adopted by the COP.

Non-party stakeholders (e.g., governmental and non-governmental bodies) who are “qualified in matters covered by the Convention” can be admitted as observers to the COP. Observer organizations play a key role in UNFCCC processes by providing vital information, experience and expertise as well as helping to ensure transparency. These observers have clustered into dynamic interest-based groups known as constituencies. Currently, there are nine constituencies recognized under the UNFCCC: business and industry NGOs (BINGOs); environmental NGOs (ENGOs); local governments and municipal authorities; Indigenous peoples’ organizations; research and independent NGOs (RINGOs); trade union NGOs; women and gender; youth NGOs; and farmers. Constituencies provide observer organizations with several benefits, including greater visibility, the chance to make interventions on the Plenary floor, inclusion of informal advance information on upcoming sessions from the Secretariat, access to bilateral information and critical meetings with officials of the Convention bodies, and invitation by the Secretariat to limited-access workshops.

There are two types of caucuses within the UNFCCC. To begin with, there are informal caucuses set up by civil society actors to discuss issues addressed under the UNFCCC and to coordinate their advocacy in the context of the negotiations. In addition, in the past, some caucuses have been formally recognized by the UNFCCC Secretariat, which has given them more visibility in the negotiations and paved the way to the creation of constituencies.

At COP 25, Parties agreed to the Gender Action Plan (GAP), which seeks to advance knowledge and understanding of gender-responsive climate action, as well as its mainstreaming in the implementation of the UNFCCC. The GAP’s objectives include, among others, the systematic integration of gender considerations into climate policy; the full and meaningful participation of women in the UNFCCC process; the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in the implementation of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.

A similar initiative is the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP), which was established at COP 21 to strengthen the knowledge, technologies, practices and efforts of local communities and indigenous peoples related to climate change response. The LCIPP aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices and knowledge and experiences pertaining to climate change mitigation and adaptation. In doing so, the LCIPP seeks to enhance the capacity of indigenous peoples and local communities to engage with the UNFCCC process.

FAQ about disability↓

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines disability as resulting from an interaction between “long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments” and the barriers that hinder “full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” In the same vein, the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities defines disability as a “physical, mental, or sensory impairment, whether permanent or temporary, that limits the capacity to perform one or more essential activities of daily life, and which can be caused or aggravated by the economic and social environment.” Under the International Labour Organization’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, an individual with a disability is someone “whose prospects of securing, retaining and advancing in suitable employment are substantially reduced as a result of a duly recognised physical or mental impairment.”

Approximately one billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, live with some form of disability. This figure is increasing through population growth. Approximately 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is an international treaty that clarifies and codifies the human rights that apply to persons with disabilities. Adopted in 2006 and entered into force in 2008, it has been ratified by 182 state parties as of March 2021. The rights protected under the UNCRPD include civil and political rights such as the right to life (art. 10), legal capacity (art. 12), access to justice (art. 13), personal liberty and security (art. 14), freedom from torture (art. 15), freedom from exploitation, violence, and abuse (art. 16), physical and mental integrity (art. 17), liberty of movement (art. 18), freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information (art. 21), privacy (art. 22), and participation in political and public life (art. 29). It also protects social, economic and cultural rights, including rights to respect for home and the family (art. 23), education (art. 24), health (art. 25), work and employment (art. 27), an adequate standard of living (art. 28), and participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure, and sport (art. 30). Importantly, the UNCRPD contains provisions that address the particular challenges faced by persons with disabilities, such as accessibility (art. 9), independent living and inclusion in the community (art. 19), personal mobility (art. 20), and habilitation and rehabilitation (art. 26).

States are obligated to protect and implement the rights codified in the UNCRPD by adopting, abolishing or amending domestic laws, policies and regulations; considering disability rights and consulting persons with disabilities in the development of policies and programs; adopting measures to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities; and promoting accessibility and universal design. State parties are also obligated to set up national focal points as well as independent mechanisms to promote, protect and monitor the implementation of the UNCRPD. States must consult and actively include persons with disabilities in the development of legislation and policies that implement the UNCRPD. The UNCRPD also commits developed State parties to provide international funding, assistance, and cooperation to fulfill the realization of disability rights in developing countries.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction was published by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015 and serves as an important contribution to the field of disaster management. Its guiding principles aim to lower disaster risk through the promotion of strategies that prevent and reduce vulnerability to disasters. An important recommendation of the Sendai Framework encourages an “all-of-society” approach to disaster risk reduction and emphasizes the need to integrate the perspectives of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, in all policies and planning.

The Sendai Framework recognizes that persons with disabilities and their organizations are critical in assessing disaster risk as well as in implementing disaster recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction plans that “build back better” and take into account the principles of universal design.

The Sendai Framework works hand in hand with the UN’s 2030 Agenda, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a call to action to protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone. Disability issues are included in several targets under the SDGs. For example, Goal 4 on inclusive and equitable quality education focuses on ensuring equal access to all levels of education and vocation training for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities. In the same vein, Goal 8 aims to promote inclusive and productive employment for all, including persons with disabilities. Closely linked is Goal 10, which seeks to reduce inequality within and among countries by promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities. Goal 11 strives to make human settlements inclusive, safe and sustainable. It calls for providing universal access to inclusive and accessible green and public spaces, particularly for persons with disabilities. Finally, Goal 17 emphasizes that in order to revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development, the collection of disability disaggregated data is needed.

FAQ about climate change and disability↓

The impacts of climate change have a number of adverse implications for persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities experience a disproportionately high mortality rate during extreme weather events relative to persons without disabilities. Climate change can also interact with and exacerbate existing health conditions for persons with disabilities. For example, persons with certain neurological disorders (e.g. multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injuries) have a decreased ability to regulate body temperature and are especially vulnerable to rising global temperatures. Similarly, persons with respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experience intensified symptoms due to increased exposure to air pollutants. Extreme weather events can also disrupt the availability of food, health care, secure shelter, and important social networks. Moreover, climate change can create inaccessible physical environments that prevent persons with disabilities from engaging with society, entering important spaces (e.g., schools and hospitals), and living independently. For example, erratic weather patterns can result in unexpected and unpredictable changes in the accessibility of roads and pathways.

Disabled people may be more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because of the combined effect of pre-existing physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, or the discrimination and other barriers that they face in society. Moreover, the rights, perspectives, and requirements of persons with disabilities are frequently neglected in climate adaptation plans, policies, and programs. For example, information concerning adaptation planning may not be available in understandable, accessible formats, and the plans themselves may not take into account the requirements of those with different types of impairments. Similarly, emergency shelters, relief distribution points and other services often fail to provide equal access for persons with disabilities.

Climate mitigation measures are necessary to avoid and limit some of the worse impacts of climate change. However, policies to reduce carbon emissions, such as carbon pricing schemes or bans of carbon-intensive products, are often designed without consideration of the rights, perspectives, and needs of the disability community and do not address the differential costs and burdens that these may impose on individuals with disabilities. These types of ableist climate mitigation policies create barriers for persons with disabilities and reinforce social inequities.

The inaccessibility of climate mitigation initiatives also undermines their effectiveness, limiting the share of the population that can contribute to the transition to a low-carbon economy. One striking example of a type of climate mitigation policy that is inconsistent with the concerns of persons with disabilities is the design of mass transit. The development of transit systems is key in reducing automobile carbon emissions and is in line with the objective of the UNFCCC to rapidly transition to more sustainable, low-carbon economies. However, transit systems are often inaccessible to persons with impaired physical mobility and vision.

The inclusion and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in the design and implementation of climate policies empowers persons with disabilities to be “agents of change” in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. Adopting an intersectional perspective towards disability-inclusive climate action that recognizes and addresses the multiple barriers faced by disabled women, children, Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, and older adults; disabled people living in poverty; and underrepresented groups of persons with disabilities, such as persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities; is also imperative, as persons with disabilities have developed valuable skills, knowledge, and resources in the face of the structural barriers they face every day. A disability-inclusive approach to climate change must also ensure that information on climate change is accessible to persons with disabilities; that the capacity of persons with disabilities to participate in climate decision-making that concerns them is strengthened; and that persons with disabilities have access to effective remedies when they suffer harm from climate action and inaction.

As has been shown in many fields, such as disaster risk reduction, education, and architectural and industrial design, persons with disabilities possess skills, knowledge, and resources that are vital to efforts to transform societies and make them more accessible, equitable, and sustainable. Disability inclusion is an investment that benefits marginalized groups, as well as society as a whole. Inclusive practices in designing climate policies and initiatives can have “resonant” impacts for the entire population. This phenomenon is widely referred to as the “curb-cut effect,” in reference to curb cuts that were first made for wheelchair access by wheelchair users but are now standard and used universally. Indeed, inclusive designs that address the particular challenges faced by persons with disabilities can ultimately benefit the broader population, allowing for a larger share of the population to contribute to efforts to combat climate change. In fact, many innovations that are widely used today were initially developed in support of persons with disabilities, including e-mail, text messaging and automatic doors. In the context of climate mitigation, the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the design of new low-carbon sectors will lead to the increased integration of universal design principles and contribute to the realization of more inclusive societies for all.

In 2019, the UN Human Rights Council called on States “to support the resilience and adaptive capacities of persons with disabilities both in rural and urban areas to respond to the adverse impacts of climate change.” The Committee on the Rights with Persons Disabilities (CRPD), the body of independent experts that oversees the implementation of the UNCRPD by State parties, has also recognized the disproportionate impacts of climate change on persons with disabilities and recommended that State parties incorporate disability inclusion into their policies on climate change, and include persons with disabilities in the planning and implementation of such policies. Similarly, a recent study by the OHCHR identified the obligation of States to reform national emergency response plans to be inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities.

Thus far, the rights of persons with disabilities have received limited attention in the context of the UNFCCC. State parties have identified persons with disabilities as a group whose human rights are acutely affected by the effects of climate change. In the Paris Agreement, State parties also acknowledged that when taking action to address climate change, they should “respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights”, including those owed to persons with disabilities. In several reports and decisions, UNFCCC bodies have affirmed the importance of taking into account the needs of persons with disabilities and ensuring their participation in relation to capacity building, education, awareness, adaption, and action for climate empowerment. Nonetheless, persons with disabilities have not been the focus of specific initiatives to fulfill their rights and have mostly been recognized alongside other vulnerable groups.