A systematic analysis of disability inclusion in domestic climate policies

Abstract We provide the first systematic analysis of whether, how, and to what extent people with disabilities and their human rights are included in two subsets of climate policies adopted by 195 parties to the Paris Agreement. We found that only 41 parties mention people with disabilities in their...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sébastien Jodoin, Amanda Bowie-Edwards, Katherine Lofts, Sajneet Mangat, Bianca Adjei, Alexandra Lesnikowski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:npj Climate Action
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00228-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849762175466340352
author Sébastien Jodoin
Amanda Bowie-Edwards
Katherine Lofts
Sajneet Mangat
Bianca Adjei
Alexandra Lesnikowski
author_facet Sébastien Jodoin
Amanda Bowie-Edwards
Katherine Lofts
Sajneet Mangat
Bianca Adjei
Alexandra Lesnikowski
author_sort Sébastien Jodoin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We provide the first systematic analysis of whether, how, and to what extent people with disabilities and their human rights are included in two subsets of climate policies adopted by 195 parties to the Paris Agreement. We found that only 41 parties mention people with disabilities in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), whereas only 75 do so in their adaptation policies. Moreover, these references are rarely accompanied by concrete measures to include people with disabilities, their rights, or their knowledge in climate decision-making. Our findings demonstrate that states are generally not abiding by their obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of persons with disabilities under international and domestic law. This exposes people with disabilities to climate-related harm and reinforces, rather than disrupts, the inequities they face in societies around the world. It also fails to harness the multiple benefits associated with a disability-inclusive approach to climate action.
format Article
id doaj-art-35638e0d9ebc405c905fb027c5fc8b00
institution DOAJ
issn 2731-9814
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Climate Action
spelling doaj-art-35638e0d9ebc405c905fb027c5fc8b002025-08-20T03:05:49ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate Action2731-98142025-03-01411810.1038/s44168-025-00228-3A systematic analysis of disability inclusion in domestic climate policiesSébastien Jodoin0Amanda Bowie-Edwards1Katherine Lofts2Sajneet Mangat3Bianca Adjei4Alexandra Lesnikowski5Canada Research Chair in Human Rights, Health, and Environment and Director of the Disability-Inclusive Climate Action Research Programme, McGill University Faculty of LawMcGill University Faculty of LawDCL Candidate, McGill University Faculty of LawMcGill University Faculty of LawMcGill University Faculty of LawConcordia University, Department of Geography, Planning and EnvironmentAbstract We provide the first systematic analysis of whether, how, and to what extent people with disabilities and their human rights are included in two subsets of climate policies adopted by 195 parties to the Paris Agreement. We found that only 41 parties mention people with disabilities in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), whereas only 75 do so in their adaptation policies. Moreover, these references are rarely accompanied by concrete measures to include people with disabilities, their rights, or their knowledge in climate decision-making. Our findings demonstrate that states are generally not abiding by their obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of persons with disabilities under international and domestic law. This exposes people with disabilities to climate-related harm and reinforces, rather than disrupts, the inequities they face in societies around the world. It also fails to harness the multiple benefits associated with a disability-inclusive approach to climate action.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00228-3
spellingShingle Sébastien Jodoin
Amanda Bowie-Edwards
Katherine Lofts
Sajneet Mangat
Bianca Adjei
Alexandra Lesnikowski
A systematic analysis of disability inclusion in domestic climate policies
npj Climate Action
title A systematic analysis of disability inclusion in domestic climate policies
title_full A systematic analysis of disability inclusion in domestic climate policies
title_fullStr A systematic analysis of disability inclusion in domestic climate policies
title_full_unstemmed A systematic analysis of disability inclusion in domestic climate policies
title_short A systematic analysis of disability inclusion in domestic climate policies
title_sort systematic analysis of disability inclusion in domestic climate policies
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00228-3
work_keys_str_mv AT sebastienjodoin asystematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies
AT amandabowieedwards asystematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies
AT katherinelofts asystematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies
AT sajneetmangat asystematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies
AT biancaadjei asystematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies
AT alexandralesnikowski asystematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies
AT sebastienjodoin systematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies
AT amandabowieedwards systematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies
AT katherinelofts systematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies
AT sajneetmangat systematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies
AT biancaadjei systematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies
AT alexandralesnikowski systematicanalysisofdisabilityinclusionindomesticclimatepolicies