We are racing closer to climate catastrophe and will soon reach the point of no return without urgent action.

So why, in a movement whose very success depends on collective effort and co-design, are people with disabilities habitually left out of the fight against climate change?

Disabled people make up the world’s largest minority group, meaning they are among those most impacted by climate disasters.

As a result, they are deeply invested in change.

Yet, their voices are often missing from panels, policy discussions, and climate leadership spaces.

Climate justice events rarely include disabled speakers and, what’s worse, they are often held in inaccessible venues or use language that excludes them.

Let’s make one thing clear: we cannot win the fight against climate change without the voices of the disability community.

Health, economics and social impact

The disability community accounts for 15% of the world’s population (over one billion people) and we certainly don’t feel the effects of climate change any less than anyone else.

We feel them disproportionately more.

People with disabilities already face systemic barriers, such as discrimination, poverty, and marginalisation. When disasters like heatwaves or floods strike, these inequalities are only amplified.

The risks increase again when disaster planning fails to account for accessibility.

Not convinced? As this data reaffirms: when our access needs are not considered, we are left behind, both literally and figuratively:

• UNESCAP research reveals disabled people are four times more likely to die or be injured during a climate-related disaster
• According to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, only 1 in 4 people with disabilities can easily follow evacuation instructions
• Only 11% know whether a disaster plan exists in their community.
• 75% report being excluded from humanitarian responses altogether.

Inclusive climate solutions benefit everyone

When we design with inclusion in mind, everyone benefits. People with disabilities bring innovative, adaptable ways of thinking to the table, often born from navigating inaccessible systems or infrastructure every day of their lives.

Take climate activist Greta Thunberg, for example, she has spoken openly about how her autism helps her “think outside the box.”

That ability to challenge norms empowered her to kick-start one of our time’s most influential environmental movements.

Yet, people with disabilities are still too often viewed as passive or incapable of contributing to climate solutions.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. We bring unique knowledge, problem-solving skills, and creative approaches crucial for designing systems that work—for everyone.

We want to be leaders in the climate movement

A harmful myth also persists, creating the false impression that people with disabilities are disinterested in living greener lives.

However, in the face of continuous access barriers, many of us actively seek out sustainable choices wherever possible, that is, going paperless for bills, or sourcing ethical suppliers of clothing or assistive technology solutions.

Despite our best efforts, there are often no viable green alternatives without significantly compromising our health and well-being.

The problem is not disinterest, but poor design. When climate policies ignore our needs, it becomes difficult or even impossible to participate.

Think about bans on plastic straws without alternatives, clean air zones that penalise Blue Badge holders, or “green” transport systems that are neither accessible nor affordable.

One-size-fits-all solutions like these only exclude our community and create frustration.

We want to be part of driving the movement for sustainable change, but the only way to achieve this is through climate policies that recognise our rights and support our inclusion. Greater access to insulated, energy-efficient housing is a prime example.

We have as much right as anyone to be stewards of the environment

Let us be clear: this is about more than policy. It is also about dignity, justice, and belonging.

People with disabilities have every right to protect and care for the planet.

No longer can our community be viewed as passive recipients of aid but rather as leaders, thinkers, and change-makers with a vested interest in the future of our planet.

This begins with embracing the Social Model of Disability and consigning outdated blanket terms like ‘vulnerable groups’ to history.

The role of governments, policymakers, and designers

To create a just and inclusive climate response, we need action, not empty words.

Here is what needs to happen:

• Prioritise inclusive employment opportunities in green sectors, especially for disabled women who face compounded barriers.
• Ensure accessibility from grassroots to global levels, so disabled people can participate fully in climate discussions and events.
• Inclusive data and research: Collect and analyse data that shows how climate change impacts people with disabilities, especially through an intersectional lens.
• Accessible communication: Emergency alerts and climate information must be available in formats like Braille, Easy Read, audio, and sign language.

Without these measures, our safety and ability to act will remain compromised.

How organisations like ours contribute to the good fight

At Passion4Social, we understand that accessibility and sustainability go hand in hand.

Just one good reason why our web accessibility audits and consultancy services are led by testers with lived experience of disability or marginalisation.

Inclusive digital spaces take us a step closer to tackling the climate crisis: when people with disabilities can fully access information, services, and platforms, they can participate in shaping a greener, fairer world.

By choosing to work with organisations like Passion4Social, you are not just improving your accessibility, you are investing in a more sustainable future for everyone.

Final reflections

Disability justice is climate justice. These two movements are deeply intertwined, and it is long past time they were treated as such.

If policymakers and designers stop ignoring disabled people and start seeing us as allies, they will discover we bring valuable perspectives, lived experience, and creativity to the environmental movement.

We do not just deserve a seat at the table, our voices are integral to building the future we all want to see.