Climate Change, Disability, and the Danger of Being Left Behind
Mrs. Ogolo-Dickson painted a sobering picture of the reality many women with disabilities face amid climate-related disasters such as floods, droughts, and extreme heatwaves:“Inaccessible early warning systems, unsafe shelters, the rising risk of gender-based violence, and exclusion from decision-making spaces continue to endanger the lives of women with disabilities in climate-vulnerable communities.”She emphasized that the climate crisis is not gender-neutral, and it certainly isn’t disability-neutral. As climate emergencies become more frequent, marginalized women bear the brunt of its impact—with women with disabilities facing the most compounded risks.
💡 AWWDI’s Inclusive Climate Action Work
In her message, Mrs. Ogolo-Dickson spotlighted AWWDI’s ongoing work to address these inequities through community engagement, institutional advocacy, and systemic change, supported by the Disability Rights Fund and Global Greengrants Fund.Some of our key climate inclusion actions include:
✅ Raising awareness through community dialogues and media campaigns in disability communities✅ Building the leadership and advocacy capacity of women with disabilities to speak for themselves in climate forums
✅ Signing strategic MoUs with key government agencies like
- Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)
- Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA)
These partnerships aim to develop inclusive early warning systems for persons with disabilities.
✅ Piloting local adaptation projects led by women with disabilities in flood-prone communities
A Clear Message to the Commonwealth
Mrs. Ogolo-Dickson’s call was simple and strong:“Climate justice must be disability inclusive. We cannot talk about leaving no one behind while continuing to ignore the most vulnerable among us.”Her voice resonated not just as a leader, but as a woman deeply rooted in grassroots struggles—bringing forward the stories that too often go unheard on global platforms.