DPA hosted a side event at the recent Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

One of the sub-themes of the conference was: Participation of persons with disabilities in climate action, disaster risk reduction and resilience against natural disasters.

DPA hosted the side event ‘Disability Inclusive Climate Action: Opportunities and Best Practices, from domestic action to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’.

A panel discussion drew on experiences of grassroots climate justice and disability justice movements; Disabled People’s Organisations; domestic and international climate advocacy; and the civil society movement for disability-inclusive climate action within the UN system.

It highlighted opportunities to combat eco-ableism; support Indigenous disabled leadership on climate; and contribute to the growing disability climate justice movement.

The discussion was moderated by Kera O’Regan of the SustainedAbility Disability and Climate Network and DPA National Executive Committee member. Speakers were DPA Policy Advisor Paul Brown; President of the National Indigenous Disabled Womens Association Nepal Pratima Gurung; CEO of First Peoples Disability Network Australia Damien Griffis; and Co-Founder of the SustainedAbility Disability and Climate Network Jason Boberg.