Climate Crisis A Human Rights Emergency, Persons With Disabilities Bear The Brunt – UN Official

The Albino Foundation Public Notice

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria Mohamed Fall, has described the climate crisis as a human rights emergency, raising concerns over the future conditions in Nigeria and other Sub-Sahara African countries.

Mr Fall said this during the opening ceremony of the Regional Africa Human Rights Academic Conference 2025 in Abuja. The conference was organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

“The climate crisis is more than environmental issues. It is a human rights emergency.

“Across our continent, rising temperatures, extreme weather events and environmental degradation is proportionally impacting those who are the most vulnerable,” Mr Fall said.

He noted that the vulnerable population including women, children, youths and persons with disabilities bear the brunt of the consequences of the climate crisis. He also said that these persons contribute the least to the greenhouse emission that exacerbates the crisis.

He added that despite Sub-Saharan Africa producing less than 4 per cent of the greenhouse emissions, it suffers the worst effect of climate change. He described this as injustice and moral failure which would have dire consequences on the next generation.

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. Highly industrialised countries are major sources of these emissions. Activities such as deforestation, and agricultural practices also contribute to the emissions.

Mr Fall’s assertion about the disproportionately devastating effects of the climate crisis on the least developed nations, which contribute minimally to overall emissions, aligns with Nigeria’s criticism of the new $300 billion climate deal agreed upon at COP29 in November last year.

The final deal included a fresh pledge by wealthy nations to provide $300 billion annually to poorer countries to help them address climate change challenges.

However, many developing countries, including Nigeria, were not impressed.

Nigeria, a member of the least developing countries (LDCs) group, said the deal fell short of meeting the ambitious and much-needed annual climate finance commitment expected from richer nations responsible for the most damage to the climate.

Mr Fall explained that the climate crisis goes beyond environmental issues. He said its consequences such as land loss, food insecurity, water scarcity and displacement have become the daily realities for millions, especially in Nigeria.

He warned that Nigeria was at a critical crossroads and the front line of climate change, facing severe desertification in the north, erosion and rising sea levels in the south, and a dramatic weather pattern disrupting agriculture and livelihood.

He said the effect of the flood was detrimental to the fight for equality, threatened peace, led to poverty and threatened peace and stability.