On April 27th, the SDDC presented the results of the study “Climate inclusion through our lens” in Kathmandu, not only presenting the results of the report, but also showcasing photographs taken by women with disabilities that illustrate the impacts of floods, landslides, and droughts on their daily lives. The event brought together around 100 participants from government, development partners, civil society, and organizations of persons with disabilities to advance inclusive climate action in Nepal. Shanti Phunyal, a participant with an intellectual disability, shared her personal experiences and called on institutions and development actors to recognize and trust the leadership, priorities, and capacities of persons with disabilities. This was followed by a National Dialog on Disability-Inclusive Climate Justice.
The dialog was inaugurated by Matthias Meier, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal, who highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on persons with disabilities and emphasized the need for inclusive, rights-based responses. CBM Nepal Country Director Rajan Bhattarai underscored the importance of the 2025 Photovoice study, which captures the lived experiences of women with disabilities and provides critical evidence to inform climate policies and financing.
Amplifying voices through photography and dialog
Study participants played leading roles throughout the event. They contributed to the design of the dialogue, moderated breakout sessions, participated actively in discussions, supported the drafting of a joint way forward document, and shared personal experiences that grounded policy conversations in real-life contexts. Youth climate advocate Muna Shakya reflected on her engagement in global climate forums, emphasizing that people with disabilities, especially young people, are not only among those most affected but also key leaders in driving climate action.
OPD representative Meena Paudel, youth climate activist Muna Shakya and study author Sagar Prasai (from left to right)
From dialog to action: strengthening inclusive climate policy
Discussions during the dialogue focused on climate impacts, barriers to accessing climate finance, existing policy gaps, and the urgent need for effective implementation at the local level. The event concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen collaboration and advance inclusive, evidence-based, and adequately resourced climate action that leaves no one behind.
Anirudra Nepal, Head of the Disaster Management Department at Kathmandu Metropolitan City, stressed the importance of strong and inclusive policies. He expressed confidence that the study’s findings would help inform government policies and budget allocations, ultimately benefiting persons with disabilities across all backgrounds. Other SDDC partners also shared their perspectives during the event. Nirmala Sharma, Country Director of FAIRMED, appreciated the collaborative efforts in making climate change discussions more proactive and continuous. Meanwhile, Virendra Thagunna, Country Director of Humanity and Inclusion (HI), emphasized the need to ensure that climate initiatives are practical, accessible, and meaningfully inclusive for persons with disabilities.