Civil society organisations representing people with disabilities make the following suggestions to policymakers at national levels of governance to ensure the green transition is just:

The perspectives of people with disabilities need to be accounted for during the green transition already during the development phase of policies and initiatives. One idea to achieve this is to create a permanent citizen panel at national or Nordic level consisting of people with different types of disabilities who could provide input and advice on policy initiatives, infrastructure projects, and more. Consultations with the panel should happen at an early stage so that their input can still make a difference. A dedicated contact person should maintain contact with the panel. Panel members should be financially compensated for their time and efforts, especially if processes are time consuming.

At European level, the European Commission (2024) has made a commitment to conduct a “youth check” when designing new policies. It implies that the impact of a new policy on young people is systematically considered during the design phase. This includes youth consultations for initiatives flagged as particularly relevant for young people as well as impact assessments and policy dialogues between youth and commissioners. Policymakers should consider establishing similar routines in the form of an “inclusiveness check” to analyse how green transition policies affect people with different types of abilities. The guiding question should be whether there is a risk that they will be excluded or negatively affected, and what could be done to prevent this.

Universal design implies that developers ask whether places, products, or services can be utilised by all to the greatest extent possible (see Box 2). It entails identifying obstacles which may stand in the way when using or accessing a new product or environment. A universal design perspective can increase the opportunities for people with disabilities, but also other groups, to fully participate and benefit from the green transition. In urban planning, a universal design perspective can inform the development of housing, transport, public space, water and sanitation, as well as many other areas.

As argued in this memo, many green innovations are expensive and require access to personal savings or bank loans. People with disabilities, who on average receive lower incomes than other groups and are at higher risk of poverty, may not be able to afford such investments. Subsidies or targeted, affordable loan schemes could help people with disabilities to make green investments. This would promote the green transition in the Nordic societies and enable people with disabilities to participate and benefit on equal terms.

A range of green jobs are likely to be created during the green transition. This offers new opportunities for people with disabilities. To ensure that they can take advantage of these new jobs, it is important to include them in training and reskilling programmes. Such programmes must be disability inclusive and should specifically target vulnerable groups in the Nordic labour markets, including people with disabilities, to reach out to their untapped potential (Fundación Once et al., 2023).

Views from civil society representing people with disabilities