Nigerian Youth: Demand Disability Climate Inclusion at COP31

• Nigerian youth with disabilities demanded comprehensive inclusion in climate policies, finance, and decision-making at COP31.
• They emphasized that climate change disproportionately affects disabled individuals but also highlighted their crucial role as innovators and contributors to solutions.
• Key recommendations included integrating disability inclusion into climate funding criteria, investment frameworks, and national climate commitments.
• The group called for transparent mechanisms to ensure representation of persons with disabilities, especially young women, in UNFCCC negotiations and national delegations.
• Improved disability-disaggregated climate data, utilizing tools like the Washington Group Questions, was also a central demand for effective planning and resource allocation.

Their participation in climate action should go beyond consultation to include meaningful influence over policies, investments, and decisions affecting their lives and communities.

Young persons with disabilities in Nigeria have issued a strong appeal to global climate stakeholders and governments, urging the prioritization of disability inclusion across all climate policies, financing mechanisms, and decision-making processes. This critical demand was articulated in a policy statement released on a Wednesday in Abuja, coinciding with the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) taking place in Antalya, Türkiye. The statement, signed by Kelsey Nwosu, Communications Officer for the Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative (HAPI), represented the collective voice of young persons with disabilities operating under the Disability Inclusive Climate Justice initiative.

The group underscored that without their significant involvement, climate action would inherently remain inequitable. They highlighted that individuals with disabilities are disproportionately affected by climate change due to pre-existing inequalities, inadequate infrastructure, and restricted access to essential services. Furthermore, insufficient access to climate information, early-warning systems, disaster preparedness, and climate finance exacerbates their vulnerability to the impacts of a changing climate.

However, the advocates firmly rejected the notion that persons with disabilities are merely passive beneficiaries of climate interventions. Instead, they asserted their roles as innovators, researchers, advocates, and active contributors to developing climate solutions. The statement emphasized that their engagement in climate action must extend beyond mere consultation, evolving to encompass genuine influence over the policies, investments, and decisions that directly impact their lives and communities. This push for Nigerian youth disability climate inclusion at COP31 represents a pivotal moment for integrating diverse perspectives into global climate strategies.

The policy statement outlined six key recommendations, urging various entities—including governments, research institutions, development partners, and private sector operators—to invest robustly in disability-inclusive climate innovation and research. A central tenet of their demands was the provision of accessible funding, technical assistance, mentorship, and incubation opportunities specifically designed to support climate innovations that are either led by or co-developed with young persons with disabilities and disability-led organizations.

Regarding climate finance disability inclusion Nigeria, the group called upon multilateral climate funds, bilateral financing institutions, and development partners to embed disability inclusion directly into their funding eligibility criteria, investment frameworks, and monitoring requirements. They also advocated for simplified funding and reporting procedures, alongside dedicated financial support tailored for grassroots disability organizations and emerging young climate innovators. These measures aim to ensure that financial resources reach those who need them most and are designed with inclusive principles.

Furthermore, the young advocates stressed the necessity of embedding disability inclusion within all climate policies, legislation, implementation plans, and national climate commitments. This integration must be accompanied by clear institutional responsibilities and adequate resource allocation. They urged governments to conduct thorough reviews of existing climate policies to identify and address gaps related to disability rights, gender equality, and accessibility, while simultaneously institutionalizing the participation of organizations of persons with disabilities in both policy formulation and implementation phases.

A significant aspect of the COP31 Nigeria disability demands focused on representation within international climate governance. The group called upon parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the COP31 Presidency, and national climate governance institutions to establish transparent mechanisms for including persons with disabilities in national delegations and critical climate decision-making structures. They specifically highlighted the importance of representing young persons with disabilities and young women with disabilities in climate negotiations and governance processes, ensuring their voices are heard at the highest levels.

To effectively guide vulnerability assessments, disaster risk management, adaptation planning, and resource allocation, the statement also called for substantial improvements in disability-disaggregated climate data. The advocates recommended the adoption of internationally recognized data collection methodologies, explicitly mentioning the Washington Group Questions as an appropriate tool for this purpose. This focus on precise data collection is crucial for understanding the specific impacts of climate change on different disability groups and for developing targeted, effective interventions.

Lawyers advising clients on climate projects, investments, or policy engagement in Nigeria should be aware of these demands to ensure compliance with evolving disability inclusion standards and to mitigate potential legal challenges or reputational risks. Compliance officers need to review their organization's climate strategies and funding criteria to ensure they integrate disability inclusion, especially given the call for specific criteria and reporting.

Source: Original reporting via the policy statement.