João Vitor da Costa da Silva at COP30 where he is hoping to raise awareness of the needs of young people with disabilities. Credit: Tanka Dhakal/IPS
By Tanka Dhakal
BELÉM, Brazil, Nov 13 2025 – At the UN Climate Conference venue in Belém, young activist João Vitor da Costa da Silva is trying to make his case heard by negotiators. The 16-year-old Da Silva has a specific request for the parties: the needs of young people with disabilities should be addressed through the lens of climate justice.
Belém native Da Silva navigates the venue in his wheelchair, sharing his story and engaging in conversations. His advocacy is not only about himself—it’s for all youth living with any form of disability. As climate change-induced extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, people with disabilities are more vulnerable than others unless there is a plan to assist them before, during, and after such events.
IPS spoke with Da Silva in the context of disability and climate justice.
IPS: How did you become involved in climate activism and how do you view the interconnection between climate change and disability?
Da Silva: I first got involved in climate and environmental activism because I live on an island called Caratateua. On the island, we face the impacts of climate change every day. We live with it day by day. I emerged from a grassroots movement in my neighborhood. On my street, people used to dump garbage in the wrong place, turning it into a dumpster. I wanted it removed and began speaking out against it because it was difficult for me to use my wheelchair. And the connection I see between climate activism and the rights of people with disabilities is like this famous phrase: ‘We can’t have climate justice without social justice.’ If we can’t even guarantee the right of a person with disabilities to move freely, how are we going to change the situation?
IPS: Why did you decide to speak out, and why does it matter?
Da Silva: The first point is that once I was able to get the dumpster removed from our street, I realized, if I can do that, then what else can I do? The second point is that when I learned how young people and children are the most affected by climate change, I realized that if our generation doesn’t speak out, we’ll be the ones suffering the longest.
IPS: You mentioned there is no justice without climate justice. For people living with disabilities, what does climate justice look like?
Da Silva: Climate justice means recognizing that we’re all living through the same situation, but some suffer more than others. It’s about understanding that people with disabilities will be more affected by the consequences than others.
IPS: Let’s talk about accessibility. You are here at COP, raising awareness about the intersection of climate change and disability. Do you think the UNFCCC or COP negotiations are mindful of this intersection?
Da Silva: No. I think this cause is not well integrated into the negotiations and environmental agreements.
IPS: If it’s not well discussed in climate negotiations and agreements don’t reflect the unique needs of people living with disabilities, how does that impact the justice being claimed?
Da Silva: That’s why it’s important to occupy these spaces. We have to be physically present—sometimes just having your body here says more than words. After occupying the space, we have to advocate and demand. So first, it’s about being here. Second, it’s about using that presence to advocate for the cause.
IPS: Do you think people on the negotiation teams and in policymaking positions are listening?
Da Silva: Do I think people are listening to me directly? I don’t know. But I’m here. I’m speaking. I’m advocating.
IPS: Climate negotiations have been going on for a long time, yet disability and climate justice have not been prioritized. What is your hope for these negotiations?
Da Silva: I hope to see actual, concrete public policies being implemented—especially regarding disaster and risk protocols. We’re all in the same storm, but we’re in different boats. For example, I cannot walk long distances, I cannot run, and I cannot go upstairs. So, I’m vulnerable and need others to help me in emergencies. That reality needs to be reflected in the documents.
IPS: Is there anything you’d like to add?
Da Silva: It’s not often that people talk about the connection between disability and climate justice. I hope to speak more about this connection, because it’s not only about me-many young people also live with disabilities. This is my cause. It’s for the rest of my life. I will keep speaking out.
This feature is published with the support of Open Society Foundations.
IPS UN Bureau Report
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