By Abbas Nazil
Journalists have been urged to strengthen disability-inclusive climate reporting to ensure that the experiences, challenges, and contributions of women and girls with disabilities are adequately reflected in climate action, public discourse, and policy development.
The appeal was made during a media engagement on disability-inclusive climate action held in Abuja, where experts stressed that accurate and sustained media coverage is essential to advancing climate justice and promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in national climate responses.
The engagement, organised by organisations of persons with disabilities, forms part of ongoing advocacy to secure the formal adoption of a National Guideline on Disability-Inclusive Climate Action by May 2027. Participants noted that the media has a vital responsibility to amplify the voices of vulnerable groups and influence public understanding of the disproportionate effects of climate change on persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls.
Experts highlighted the growing risks faced by women and girls with disabilities as climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe.
They observed that floods, prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, and other extreme weather events often have greater consequences for people living with disabilities due to barriers in accessing information, emergency services, healthcare, and humanitarian assistance.
According to data cited from the World Health Organisation (WHO), between 13 million and 17 million women and girls with disabilities in Nigeria are exposed to heightened climate-related risks.
The organisation also estimates that about 16 percent of the global population lives with a disability, while mortality rates among persons with disabilities during disasters can be as much as four times higher than those recorded among the general population.
Speaking during the event, Executive Director of the Inclusive Friends Association, Grace Jerry, said women and girls with disabilities continue to bear a disproportionate burden from climate-induced disasters but remain largely invisible in climate reporting and public conversations.
She explained that despite their unique experiences and resilience, their perspectives are often overlooked in media coverage and policy discussions surrounding climate change.
Jerry noted that Nigeria already has important policy frameworks, including the National Climate Change Policy (2021–2030) and the National Adaptation Plan, which recognise the importance of addressing climate challenges.
However, she argued that journalists require greater understanding of disability-inclusive climate action to accurately report the realities faced by persons with disabilities and to ensure balanced and evidence-based reporting.
She explained that the media engagement was designed to improve journalists’ knowledge of disability-inclusive climate reporting by providing practical skills, reliable data, and evidence-based reporting techniques.
According to her, strengthening media capacity will encourage more informed storytelling that reflects both the vulnerabilities and resilience of women and girls with disabilities in the face of climate change.
Jerry expressed optimism that journalists who participated in the engagement would adopt more inclusive reporting practices by ensuring that stories on climate change feature the lived experiences of persons with disabilities rather than treating them as invisible stakeholders.
She said such reporting would help increase public awareness, promote accountability, and encourage more inclusive climate policies and interventions.
She further stressed that climate justice cannot be fully achieved without the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities at every stage of climate planning and implementation.
She therefore called on governments, policymakers, development partners, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to mainstream disability inclusion into climate policies, programmes, disaster preparedness strategies, and adaptation initiatives.
Participants at the engagement also emphasised that inclusive reporting goes beyond highlighting challenges.
They noted that journalists should equally showcase the leadership, innovation, and resilience demonstrated by women and girls with disabilities in responding to climate-related issues, thereby challenging stereotypes and encouraging greater social inclusion.
The experts maintained that the media remains a powerful tool for shaping public opinion and influencing policy decisions. They expressed confidence that improved disability-inclusive climate reporting would not only increase awareness of the unique impacts of climate change on persons with disabilities but also contribute to the development of more equitable, responsive, and inclusive climate action across Nigeria.
