Why Marginalized Voices Matter in Climate Resilience

Climate Week is here, and there's one key takeaway for me: inclusion in climate action. The disability community is often overlooked in discussions about climate change, but the reality is staggering: ➳ People with disabilities are 4 to 5 times more likely to die during natural disasters (World Bank). This needs to change. At Green Disability, we’re pushing to raise awareness and foster collaboration to create more inclusive climate policies—because true sustainability isn’t just about the environment, it’s about equity. Here’s my advice to those in the climate space: 🌱 Inclusion is non-negotiable: We need to listen to marginalized voices, especially those most affected by climate change. 🌱 Action through collaboration: Work with diverse stakeholders—especially disability rights organizations—to create solutions that work for everyone. 🌱 Policy matters: Advocate for strategies that prioritize accessibility and empower all communities to thrive in the face of climate challenges. Together, we can. 🌍 #GreenerTogether #ClimateAction #DisabilityRights #Intersectionality #GreenDisability LinkedIn Social Impact LinkedIn's Economic Graph ID: The image shows a profile of Puneet Singh Singhal with a verified checkmark: GREEN Disability: "Accessibility and sustainability are two sides of the same coin—without Disability Justice, Climate Justice remains incomplete."

Cost-benefit analysis isn’t neutral—and climate change doesn’t affect everyone equally. That’s the premise behind the new UNDP Gender-Responsive and Socially Inclusive CCBA Guidelines. It’s a big step forward for anyone trying to align climate investments with real-world equity. Here’s why this matters: Women and vulnerable groups bear the brunt of climate impacts, especially in the Global South. Think: drought-displaced communities, informal sector workers, and landless farmers. Yet they’re often excluded from how projects are assessed and financed. These guidelines offer a concrete framework for Ministries of Finance, Planning, and Environment to build gender and social inclusion into climate adaptation and mitigation investment planning. It’s not just about climate-proofing infrastructure. It’s about measuring who benefits—and who doesn’t—from every climate dollar spent. What’s in it for MENA and Africa? MENA countries, increasingly climate-stressed, are pivoting from reactive spending to risk-informed planning. These tools help justify smarter, more inclusive investments. Across Africa, where adaptation needs are sky-high but resources are tight, this approach helps governments and donors prioritize resilient and just projects—not just the biggest or fastest to implement. This isn’t just a technical fix—it’s a mindset shift. One that says economic efficiency must include social equity and climate reality. If you're involved in public finance, climate policy, or sustainable development—especially in the Global South—this is essential reading.

🌍 Community-Based Approaches to Climate Resilience 🌱 When it comes to climate resilience, communities are not just beneficiaries—they are agents of change. Top-down strategies alone are rarely enough. Sustainable climate action requires solutions that are locally led, context-specific, and inclusive. Here’s why community-based approaches matter: 🔹 Local Knowledge & Ownership Communities understand their environment better than anyone else. By integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific evidence, resilience plans become both practical and sustainable. 🔹 Inclusive & Equitable When women, youth, and marginalized groups are actively engaged, solutions are more just and representative of everyone’s needs. 🔹 Scalable & Replicable Small, community-driven innovations—like early warning systems, climate-smart agriculture, or water conservation—can be adapted and scaled across regions. 🔹 Stronger Social Fabric Resilience is not just about infrastructure; it’s about solidarity. Community participation strengthens trust, cooperation, and collective action. 💡 Building climate resilience with communities, not just for them, is the way forward. 👉 What community-led climate initiatives have inspired you the most? #ClimateResilience #CommunityDevelopment #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Adaptation

CLIMATE CHANGE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE, BUT OUR SOLUTIONS OFTEN DO In the ongoing battle against climate change, we often hear about the 'vulnerable' or 'marginalized' populations—terms that conjure images of distant, faceless groups in far-off lands. But these communities are not far away; they are right next to us. They are the construction workers building our cities, the garbage pickers cleaning our streets, the auto-rickshaw drivers navigating our crowded roads, the 'didis' who clean and cook in our homes, and the 'bhaiyas' who assist us with daily tasks. Government action plans to combat climate change—measures to shield us from heatwaves, extreme cold, rainfall, cyclones, and floods—are often tailored for those with the privilege of working from home, enjoying regulated indoor climates, and accessing modern healthcare. But what about those who work outside, under the sun when temperatures reach 50 degrees Celsius, with little to no protection? It's a harsh reality: the people who bear the brunt of climate change are frequently those least equipped to handle it. Ignoring these disparities is not just unjust; it is a critical failure in our collective fight against climate change. Climate change does not discriminate, but our solutions often do. Our solutions must extend to all, ensuring no one is left behind. Moreover, the nature of these solutions must be carefully considered. On one hand, they need to be ideated from the ground up, taking into account the specific needs and circumstances of these marginalized communities. On the other hand, they should be affordable—not just in a way that reduces these communities to mere 'beneficiaries' or 'customers', but in a manner that truly empowers them. Furthermore, these communities must be active participants in the solution-making process, not just passive implementers. Their voices, experiences, and knowledge are invaluable in shaping effective strategies that resonate with their realities. By involving them as partners and co-creators, we can ensure that solutions are not only tailored to their needs but also sustainable and culturally appropriate. Climate solutions must be inclusive, equitable, and participatory. #ClimateJustice #FightClimateChange #ProtectEveryone #InclusiveSolutions #SustainableFuture #ClimateResilience #ClimateActionNow #EnvironmentalJustice

I co-authored an editorial with Mafalda Duarte of the Green Climate Fund, published by Context Newsroom. It discusses the critical role Indigenous Peoples play in climate and biodiversity efforts. Though Indigenous communities comprise just 5% of the global population and manage nearly half of the world’s lands and forests, they receive less than 1% of climate finance. The Green Climate Fund is working to change this by committing $4 billion to support Indigenous Peoples across 80 countries. An Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group ensures these investments are aligned with community needs. Additionally, The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is backing a global study to document Indigenous contributions to climate action, highlighting the necessity for increased financial support and recognition of their invaluable knowledge. As we approach the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, let's advocate for the empowerment of Indigenous communities and their inclusion in global climate strategies. Their traditional knowledge and sustainable practices are essential for our planet’s future. #IndigenousPeoples #ClimateAction #Sustainability #GreenClimateFund

Why Climate Activism Needs Diversity and Inclusion Humanity is facing the same storm, but we are in different boats. We are not all affected the same way. For some people, their lifeboat is already sinking. As it sinks, livelihoods are destroyed. As vulnerable communities face some of the worst impacts of the climate crisis, they are left behind during climate conversations. I have personally witnessed how climate activists from the most affected areas face challenges attending some of the most crucial climate conferences. This could be because of a lack of accreditation, funding, or visa challenges. It has always been a problem, year after year. The people whose voices are always excluded from decision-making rooms are those on the frontlines of droughts, storms, and floods, among other disasters. There is a problem here. To include every story, voice, and experience is to set ourselves up for effective climate justice, where no one is left behind. This is how we center solutions that are unique to every community's needs. We must intentionally let marginalized communities actively engage and participate, lead, inform, and shape climate policy. Let us work together to break down barriers and build a world that truly represents the diversity of our planet and the people. Share your thoughts, ideas, and commitments in the comments below. A just and equitable world is possible. #climatejustice #sustainability #diversity #equity

Sustainability isn’t just about carbon — it’s about people. In truly future-focused organizations, environmental sustainability and inclusion go hand in hand. Why? Because the climate crisis doesn’t impact everyone equally, and real solutions require diverse voices at the table. An inclusive sustainability organization doesn’t just green its operations — it ensures equity is woven through every layer of its work. Here’s what that looks like in practice: • Representation in leadership to drive more just climate decisions • Equitable policies that support all employees, from fair pay to flexible work and well-being • A culture of belonging where diverse perspectives are valued and acted on • Community-centered strategies that prioritize those most impacted The data is clear: • Diverse teams are 35% more likely to outperform financially (McKinsey, 2023) • Organizations with inclusive cultures are 2.6x more likely to be innovative (BCG, 2022) • 70% of Gen Z professionals say they’re more likely to work for a company that takes a stand on social and environmental issues (Deloitte, 2023) • Communities most affected by climate change are often underrepresented in climate policy decisions, leading to solutions that overlook their needs (IPCC, 2022) When we connect inclusion with sustainability, we move from short-term fixes to long-term systemic change. This isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s smart strategy: • Inclusive cultures build trust and retention • Equitable design leads to stronger stakeholder impact • Diverse voices fuel innovation and resilience Sustainability without inclusion is incomplete. Let’s redefine what a “green” organization looks like — one that’s not only climate-conscious, but also just, diverse, and people-first. #Sustainability #Inclusion #EquityInClimate #DiversityAndInclusion #Leadership #SocialSustainability #FutureOfWork #ClimateJustice

It is often said that local communities do not understand how climate change or environmental realities affect them. But this notion is far from true. The real issue is the disconnect – inadequate investment in local human capital, disrupted livelihoods, and the lack of proper resilience approaches to support frontline and coastal communities to thrive, especially where government support is limited or non-existent. We become so fixated on our own definitions of what the adverse impacts of climate change or environmental degradation should look like at their level, and the solutions we invent, that we forget this: 🍃 Local, rural, and indigenous communities who live these realities daily have a major role to play in how we define and create solutions to achieve Goal 14 and other Sustainable Development Goals. Communities may not describe how climate change affects them in our scientific terms, but here’s what I have discovered over the past five years, mobilising communities for climate and policy action: 💡Communities often describe how climate and environmental changes affect them better than we assume. 💡They build resilience even where education or technological aids are limited or non-existent. 💡Backing local knowledge with technology protects traditional wisdom while creating innovative solutions that merge tradition and modern technology for climate and ocean challenges. 💡 Lastly, co-designing solutions with communities is key to sustaining and scaling impact. This ensures policies are deeply rooted to serve not just minorities, but the majority, particularly those in the informal sector with no social security, who depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. Whether you are an environmentalist or not, keep this in mind: 🍃 It is not enough for our solutions, policies, or innovations to serve minorities. True impact lies in ensuring they serve the majority, enabling people to live with dignity. And one way to achieve this is through: 💡Inclusion: ensuring communities have a seat at the table; and 💡 Integration: ensuring their wisdom, practices, and priorities shape the table itself. I hope this helps #abimbolaabikoye #communityresilience #frontlinevoices #sustainability #UNSDGs

Climate change is irreversibly and brutally changing lives everywhere around the world. We need to do many things differently to ensure resilience, including involving marginalized groups in disaster risk management (DRM). Peers at WomenStrong International, The World Bank, and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) believe it's long past time to tap into the unique perspectives and knowledge of local women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and those living with disabilities, to ensure that we can save lives and livelihoods as the impacts of extreme weather affect us almost daily.  Together, the The World Bank’s @Zoe Trohanis and I have put forward 5 tips to enhance inclusiveness in #DRM: > Recognize local expertise: Involve persons with disabilities, women, and the elderly to identify critical needs and vulnerabilities. > Integrate knowledge in preparedness: Engage diverse community members in planning evacuation routes, shelters, and support centers. > Mobilize marginalized groups: Empower them with digital platforms to signal urgent needs and to allocate resources efficiently. > Provide fair compensation: Acknowledge local knowledge and effort by fairly compensating these local experts in DRM planning. > Include women in post-disaster planning: Include their insights for effective response and recovery. During desperate times, it's essential to try new ways of responding more effectively and efficiently.  Thoughtful, inclusive disaster risk management, #DRM, and planning are absolutely critical to saving lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure. In adopting truly inclusive processes, we can create more resilient communities, at a time when human connection is more essential than ever. Read our blog here: https://lnkd.in/eCGtGDvq @Zoe Trohanis, @Mirtha Liliana Escobar Melina Fleury Franco Yoko Kobayashi Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) #climatecrisis #climateaction #inclusivedevelopment #disasterriskreduction #disasterpreparedness #disasterrecovery