COP30 Is a Turning Point for Disability-Inclusive Climate Action

News | November 11, 2025

“COP30 is where lived experience must translate into urgent climate action.”

— Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, COP30 President-Designate

 

As the world gathers in Belém, Brazil, from 10–21 November 2025 for COP30, the message from the summit’s leadership is clear: climate action must begin and end with people. This year’s conference marks a pivotal moment—not just for global climate negotiations, but for the disability movement’s long-overdue inclusion in climate policy and decision making.

CBM Global’s Role at COP30

Delegates from CBM Global Federation have attended the past four COPs. At COP30, CBM Global is focused on four strategic goals:

1. Supporting OPD partners who are at the heart of our climate advocacy roadmap.
2. Sustaining the momentum built over four years of disability engagement in climate spaces.
3. Working with the disability caucus, which is growing yearly and includes members from different regions of the world.
4. Amplifying disability-inclusive climate justice, in collaboration with networks like the Climate Action Network (CAN).

Spotlight on the CBM Global Delegation

CBM Global’s delegation includes representatives from Ireland, Nepal and Nigeria. We will be joining other OPD partners from the Philippines, and Indonesia while there. The delegation is made up of

• Munah Shakya, a young woman with a disability who is a representative of the National Indigenous Disabled Women’s Association, Nepal (NIDWAN)
• Meena Paudel from Nepal, OPD partner, a disability and gender activist with the Nepal Disabled Women’s Association (NDWA).
• Olajide Funso from Nigeria, representing DINABI, a disability-focused organisation advocating for dignity and respect of the rights and socio-economic inclusion of persons with disabilities.
• Shiela Aggarao from the Philippines who is part of the team leading CBM Global’s climate and disability advocacy training.
• Yeni Rosa Damayanti and Maulani Rotinsulu from Indonesia, OPD partners with CBM Global Indonesia country team.

These partners will be joined at COP itself by Mahbub Kabir (Advocacy and Inclusion Advisory manager) and Simon Burdett, (Project Lead, Disability Inclusive Climate Justice with Funding Fairer Futures progamme)from CBM Ireland and behind the scenes logistics from back at base by Debbie Gallagher and Mary Keogh from the advocacy team and Mark Barrell from CBM UK.

What we will doing at COP

• Launch of the Photo Voice project at a side event on November 13th: This will showcase research on the impact of climate change on women with disabilities in Nepal. The project led by CBM Switzerland who are part the Swiss Disability and Development Consortium (SDDC) includes powerful videos and an exhibition. The research report can be found at this link and the videos which tell the individual stories can be found at this link.
• Soft Launch of ‘One in Five Is Not Enough’: CBM Global will be sharing some research findings highlighting the slow progress on disability-inclusive climate action. The launch takes place on November 19th in a side event with the Global Disability Fund, the International Disability Alliance and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Australia. 
• Exhibition Booth: Showing disability inclusive climate action from organisations of persons with disabilities, civil society organisations and foundations. 

What will we be looking for at COP30

• We will be watching for increased commitments on disability inclusion, and we are hoping that the disability caucus will be finally recognised.
• We will be supporting the calls to action on the Disability Caucus policy briefing note which can be found here.
• We will also be waiting for the announcement of next year’s COP location which we are hoping will be Australia.

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