COP29 Q&A: Creating an Accessible, Inclusive Conference

The World Health Organisation estimates that more than a billion people around the world live with some form of disability – that’s 15% of the population.

Disabled people are already being disproportionately affected by climate change, in part due to limited inclusion in climate planning.

Without careful, intentional action to include disabled people, this will only continue.

Large events, where climate decisions are often made, can be particularly exclusionary through communication barriers, mobility challenges — like a lack of space for equipment — or crowded, noisy areas.

COP29’s Chief Operating Officer Narmin Jarchalova aims to make a change at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference by providing key accessibility features for the first time. 

Narmin shares her COP29 expertise with Sustainability Magazine.

Why is accessibility important to the COP process?

Accessibility, in multiple forms, is fundamental to our broader vision of delivering an inclusive COP29 and we are emphasising inclusivity as a guiding principle for the conference this year.

We believe that running an inclusive process is the best way to ensure inclusive outcomes.

It is not enough to just talk about accessibility and how this informs our approach to inclusivity though; we must also embody these values in our operations.

One of the seven core commitments of the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company’s sustainability approach is to ensure inclusivity and accessibility, which is a top priority in organising this year’s conference. 

We have worked extremely hard to ensure that all attendees can comfortably experience every aspect of the conference which we feel is vital to this COP having a lasting and meaningful impact.

Creating an inclusive environment that facilitates meaningful dialogue lies at the heart of our ambition to enhance ambition and enable action at COP29 in Baku.  

What is COP29’s approach to accessibility at the venue and for the experience for all participants?

The COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company has introduced a range of initiatives at Baku Stadium to deliver an inclusive environment for the conference, which focuses on accessibility and comfort for all attendees. 

We have optimised the layout of Baku Stadium to ensure it can cater for all disabilities, adding dedicated lanes in the Public Screening Areas (PSAs).

A dedicated wheelchair maintenance service and charging points will be available at the main venue to support attendees with mobility challenges, enabling us to provide improved access and a positive experience at the venue from arrival to departure.

Other key accessibility features this year include sunflower lanyards, a quiet room and specialised training for airport staff and volunteers. 

Staff from the COP29 Operating Company with various types of disabilities have actively contributed to these accessibility initiatives and this was extremely important to us.

These efforts reflect our broader commitment to inclusivity and our firm belief that when all members of civil society are empowered to engage and participate in the conference, the outcomes of COP29 will be richer and more effective.

Are you taking any accessibility measures that are new to the COP process?

For the first time in COP history, we will provide sign language interpretation.

We are also improving access for visually impaired attendees through tactile maps at the Blue and Green Zone entrances, as well as contrast colours on door frames and steps to assist people with vision impairments.

The Baku Stadium will equally have an audio induction system for individuals with hearing and speech impairments.

Sign language interpreters will be on hand to facilitate accessibility during sessions throughout COP.

Another measure new to COP this year is the addition of a wheelchair maintenance service, featuring check-ups and technical support, as well as a charging station for electric wheelchairs.

Spare wheelchairs will also be available for those in need. 

Finally, to guarantee inclusive access to event information, there will be a dedicated accessibility information point throughout the conference, sunflower symbol ribbons provided for individuals with invisible disabilities and Braille-designed venue maps and stickers on doors.

All these stickers are handmade by people with invisible disabilities. 

How will the work you are doing for COP29 change the way Azerbaijan plans for future events?

The work our Operating Company is doing to deliver an accessible and inclusive COP29 will be highly beneficial when our country plans for future events.

Not only will we have highly trained staff, but we are also raising awareness and increasing our own understanding around accessibility needs and the standard required for future events held in Azerbaijan.

It is equally our hope that our work for COP29 will raise accessibility and inclusivity standards for all future global conferences of this kind.  

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