Dressed in a kachhad, a traditional Nepalese clothes, Umesh Balal walked into his meetings at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) on climate change in Dubai with a sense of determination,
Balal, who has physical disability, was there to publicly 1 inclusion of disability rights in the climate change conference an aspect that he said has long been 2 by organizers of the world's largest annual meeting on climate issues.
As a student, Balal was 3 about science and involved himself in research on environmental science. Those were his first few interactions that 4 the climate related issues to him. Being from a mountainous region, Balal 5 more about how climate change had 6 people there, which led him to develop climate anxiety.
The more Balan 7 himself to climate science, the more he learned about the impact of climate change. People with more resources have better chances of 8 the climate crisis. But the less developed countries, for the 9 communities, usually don't have the same opportunities, which will push them further into the 10 .
And it is even harder for people with 11 . Many people with disabilities in Nepal don't have 12 to proper education or opportunities for growth. As a result, they aren't able to advocate for their rights.
In an interview, Balan said, "13 , I am honored that I come from a supportive family, where I had a chance of good education which 14 me to grow in life. This is what I 15 for others, to change the way they live their lives."
