[Pdf-women] Historic Breakthrough: Disability Caucus Gains Official Recognition in UNFCCC Process, Advancing Inclusive Climate Governance

[Soloveni Vitoso]

[cid:d7c40afd-bee0-483a-9ce3-be5e6c4c73a6]

SUVA, Fiji — 3 March 2026 — The Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) today welcomed the official recognition of the Disability Caucus as an informal group of stakeholders within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process—a milestone that secures a formal platform for persons with disabilities to shape global climate policy.
“The official recognition of the Disability Caucus within the UNFCCC process is a hard‑won and historic breakthrough for persons with disabilities worldwide. Climate change in the Pacific is not a future risk, it has already flooded our homes, uprooted our families, eroded our cultures, and shaken our peace and security. Our communities are living the crisis every single day.
This milestone ensures that our lived realities will no longer be invisible in global climate negotiations. It affirms that climate justice must include those most disproportionately affected. We commend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change for this important step, and we pay tribute to the International Disability Alliance and disability advocates across the world whose tireless advocacy over many years made this moment possible.
This is not just recognition, it is a declaration that persons with disabilities belong at every climate decision‑making table.”
— Sainimili Tawake, CEO, Pacific Disability Forum
The recognition follows years of sustained advocacy by disability rights organizations globally and creates a coordinated space for engagement, capacity‑building, and unified advocacy within technical climate processes. It acknowledges that effective climate action must be informed by the lived experiences of persons with disabilities who are disproportionately affected by climate impacts.
“In the Pacific, where climate impacts are already at our doorstep, this recognition will help ensure that persons with disabilities are part of the solutions protecting our islands and our future.”
— Damian Griffis, Co‑Chair, Pacific Disability Forum
Why this matters now
From sea‑level rise to increasingly severe storms, Pacific communities are already confronting climate loss and damage. For persons with disabilities, barriers in early warning access, evacuation, relocation, and recovery magnify these risks. Today’s recognition signals a systemic shift: disability perspectives will be embedded—not appended—in climate negotiations, policies, and funding decisions under the UNFCCC process.
What changes with recognition

  *
Formal platform for participation: The Disability Caucus now has an acknowledged role to engage across UNFCCC processes, ensuring accessibility and inclusion are considered from the outset.
  *
Stronger movement coordination: With more than 120 organizations involved—12 of which already hold UNFCCC accreditation—the Caucus strengthens collective advocacy and technical input.
  *
A path to full constituency status: The Caucus will continue working toward full UNFCCC Constituency status to secure equal rights and representation within negotiations.

Call to partners
PDF calls on governments, climate funds, and negotiating groups to operationalize this recognition by:

  1.
Adopting accessibility standards in all UNFCCC‑related meetings and submissions;

  2.
Ring‑fencing resources for disability‑inclusive adaptation and loss‑and‑damage responses; and

  3.
Ensuring representative participation of persons with disabilities and their organizations in national delegations and stakeholder consultations.


Kind Regards,

Soloveni Vitoso | Interim Public Relations and Communications Officer
[cid:ad8c9bd0-722b-4a6b-9191-18e3946815a8]
Pacific Disability Forum | Ground Floor, Kadavu House, Victoria Parade
GPO Box 18458 Suva, Fiji
Phone (landline): (+679) 7730200, 3312008, 3310469
Phone (Mobile)(+679) 8990134
Email: Soloveni.Vitoso at pacificdisability.org<mailto:Soloveni.Vitoso at pacificdisability.org>
Website: www.pacificdisability.org<http://www.pacificdisability.org/>
Organisation in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Commission since 2012.
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