Eco-ableism refers to the forms of

ableism Ableism (; also known as ablism, disablism (British English), anapirophobia, anapirism, and disability discrimination) is discrimination and social prejudice against physically or mentally disabled people. Ableism characterizes people as they a ...

that arise within

environmental movement The environmental movement (sometimes referred to as the ecology movement) is a social movement that aims to protect the natural world from harmful environmental practices in order to create sustainable living. In its recognition of humanity a ...

policies Policy is a deliberate system of guidelines to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent and is implemented as a procedure or protocol. Policies are generally adopted by a governance body within an orga ...

, and discourses, leading to the exclusion,

marginalisation Social exclusion or social marginalisation is the social disadvantage and relegation to the fringe of society. It is a term that has been used widely in Europe and was first used in France in the late 20th century. In the EU context, the Euro ...

, or misrepresentation of disabled people. It encompasses the design of environments that prioritise able-bodied and neurotypical experiences, the absence of disabled voices in environmental decision-making, the inaccessibility of environmental activism spaces, and the guilt or shame some disabled individuals may feel for using tools or resources deemed unsustainable by others. Eco-ableism highlights how environmental advocacy can inadvertently uphold normative assumptions about bodies and minds, reinforcing the idea that there is a single correct or ideal way to exist. Advocates argue that environmental justice must include disability justice, guided by the principle of “nothing about us without us.”

Coinage

The term was coined by disabled and neurodivergent environmental activists, and began appearing in scientific and journalistic literature in the early 2020s.

Context

Eco-ableism occurs within a broader context in which disabled people experience heightened vulnerability to the impacts of the

climate crisis ''Climate crisis'' is a term that is used to describe global warming and climate change and their effects. This term and the term ''climate emergency'' have been used to emphasize the threat of global warming to Earth's natural environment an ...

. A growing body of research indicates that disabled individuals are disproportionately affected during climate-related events. For example, a 2022 study of heatwave-related deaths in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

between 2001 and 2018 found that 89% of those who died—316 out of 354 individuals—were living with at least one disability. In this context, eco-ableism can be particularly harmful. Despite this elevated risk, disabled people are often underrepresented in climate-related policy, planning, and research. They are more likely to experience poverty and are less frequently included in urban planning, public health and biomedical research, legal frameworks, and socioeconomic initiatives aimed at responding to climate change. This underrepresentation persists despite international legal obligations such as the 2006 United Nations

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international human rights instrument, international human rights multilateral treaty, treaty of the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with Disabil ...

(CRPD), which mandates the inclusion of disabled people in climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, including international development programmes.

Examples

* Plastic straw bans: While aimed at reducing single-use plastics, these bans have often failed to accommodate individuals with disabilities who rely on plastic straws to safely consume liquids. Some alternative materials like paper or metal are unsafe or impractical for certain medical needs. * Emergency planning: Evacuation and protection measures against environmental hazards sometimes neglect the needs of disabled people, leading the latter to be even more vulnerable when disaster hits. * Climate activism spaces: Protests and campaigns have been criticised for their lack of physical accessibility, sensory overload, and exclusion of disabled voices in leadership or strategic planning.

Intersectionality

By examining how the climate crisis and ableism combine and interact, eco-ableism fits within an

intersectional Intersectionality is an analytical framework for understanding how groups' and individuals' social and political identities result in unique combinations of discrimination and privilege. Examples of these intersecting and overlapping factor ...

approach to understanding and addressing drivers of inequality. This approach also highlights that eco-ableism itself does not affect all disabled people in the same way either. Many face overlapping forms of discrimination based not only on disability, but also on race,

gender Gender is the range of social, psychological, cultural, and behavioral aspects of being a man (or boy), woman (or girl), or third gender. Although gender often corresponds to sex, a transgender person may identify with a gender other tha ...

class Class, Classes, or The Class may refer to: Common uses not otherwise categorized * Class (biology), a taxonomic rank * Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects * Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used d ...

age Age or AGE may refer to: Time and its effects * Age, the amount of time someone has been alive or something has existed ** East Asian age reckoning, an Asian system of marking age starting at 1 * Ageing or aging, the process of becoming older ...

, Indigeneity, migration status, or geography. These intersecting inequalities can intensify exclusion from environmental decision-making and heighten vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. For instance, Indigenous people with disabilities may be disproportionately affected by environmental degradation that threatens land, culture, and food sovereignty, while also being excluded from policy discussions that shape climate action. Women with disabilities often experience barriers to water access, reproductive healthcare, and safety during climate disasters—especially in low-income or rural contexts. Understanding eco-ableism through an intersectional lens reveals how environmental policies and designs can reinforce multiple forms of marginalisation at once. For example, inaccessible evacuation centres or disaster warnings may leave out not just disabled people generally, but especially those who also face language barriers, poverty, or institutional discrimination. Without accounting for these intersecting experiences, climate action can unintentionally prioritise certain bodies, voices, and communities—while excluding others. Addressing eco-ableism, therefore, requires inclusive climate strategies that actively centre diverse disability perspectives, particularly from those most affected and least represented.

Coinage

Context

Examples

Intersectionality

See also

References

Further reading