Climate Rights International report on global climate activism

As heat records soar, repression of climate activists intensifies. Read opinion article by Andrew Firmin, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, about the growing crackdown on climate protests in the global north and its chilling effects on civil society. The article further outlines the innovative strategies activists are employing to counteract government suppression and keep the climate crisis in the spotlight. #ClimateJustice #CivilSociety

🌡️ As if global warming wasn't enough, governments are turning up the heat beneath those calling for climate action. #EnvironmentalDefenders are facing a new wave of oppression across the globe, writes Human Rights Watch's Maria Laura Canineu 👇 Initiatives like the #AarhusConvention and #EscazúAgreement can help, but more needs to be done to guarantee the safety of environmental defenders all over the world. In healthy democracies, peaceful protest is a fundamental cog in the wheel of politics 💚 https://lnkd.in/gbXhgTfN 

Yesterday, the United Nations released a report warning of a stark increase in repression against climate activists in Europe at large; criticizing the crackdown as undemocratic: https://lnkd.in/gEU9pB5b. A recent report from Anne Christianson, Robert Benson, Courtney Federico, and myself laid out the nexus between green backlash and democratic backsliding, highlighting the connections between rising far-right populism, threats to democracy, and growing resistance to climate policies in Europe: https://lnkd.in/gHa45hgw. Far-right groups are exploiting discontent with environmental policies to achieve their own ends - undermining progress on climate change and endangering democracy in Europe and beyond.

This is despicable. 4-5 year prison sentences for peaceful protestors who were denied a fair trial?! The media are already framing these activists as ‘fanatical’ in an attempt to normalise what is draconian and an attack on our democratic right to protest. To quote Michel FORST, the UN’s special rapporteur on environmental defenders, “The UK is a nightmare for climate activists [...] this is something I have not seen anywhere else and it is shockingly disproportionate.” Chris Packham continues: "They have just been through the sham of a court case where they were not allowed to say why they were protesting, and this has aggrieved the UN. They have criticised the UK government and said that basically it’s transgressing the UK’s obligations when it comes to upholding human rights.” Meanwhile, true criminals (the leaders of fossil fuel companies, which profit billions off the destruction of nature, the exploitation of people, and imminent climate collapse), walk free. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE 🫠😭😩 ~ Credit to Damien Gayle and The Guardian for the coverage. . . . . . . . . #climatecrisis #climatechange #climateaction #activism #action #juststopoil #business #sustainablebusiness #people #sustainability #ecoanxiety #science #fossilfuels #NetZero #politics #labour #conservatives #justice

Governments are increasingly cracking down hard on climate activists. But here’s the thing: repression doesn’t change the reality of the climate crisis. Harassment, arrests, imprisonment, killings... none of that slows humanity’s release of carbon into the atmosphere, which is the actual problem here. My Daily Brief: 📰 Read: https://lnkd.in/eZyzADd5 🔊 Listen: https://lnkd.in/eHQVMb26 📰 Français: https://lnkd.in/etKPr2gA 📰 Deutsch: https://lnkd.in/ejKPaAG4

Wealthy, democratic countries in the global north are using harsh, vague and punitive measures to crack down on climate protests at the same time as criticising similar draconian tactics by authorities in the global south, according to a report. But the report found that rather than taking urgent measures to rapidly reduce the use of fossil fuels and halt ecological collapse, many relatively wealthy countries have instead focused on those trying to stop those raising the alarm by taking part in protests and civil disobedience. The escalating climate crisis has resulted in record-breaking temperatures around the world in 2024, driving food shortages, mass movements of people and economic hardship – as well as deadly fires and floods.

"No major emitter country has decarbonised enough to meet the 2015 Paris climate agreement goals. In response, climate activists are using protests, campaigning and civil disobedience to try to focus public debate and spur urgent state action on phasing out of fossil fuels and protecting carbon sinks like forests. In turn, some European states have reacted with heavy-handed policing, and by effectively criminalising such activism, seeking to dissolve groups, imposing restrictions on protests, and conducting smear campaigns. This creates serious risks to environmental activism and civil society as a whole and undercuts vital efforts to address the climate crisis." #climatechange #activism #society

In a world grappling with the dire consequences of climate change, environmental justice defenders stand as beacons of hope, tirelessly advocating for a sustainable future that benefits all of humanity.The fact that governments actively persecute these defenders is a shameful testament to their disregard for the wellbeing of their citizens and the future of our species. Rather than berate and punish these defenders, we must support, protect, and amplify their vital work to preserve our planet. The fight for climate justice and environmental justice is a fight for the very survival of humanity-a cause that should unite us all.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗺: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 A doctor, who was part of a peaceful protest against the expansion of a new oil field, has been sentenced to prison for 12 months. This sets a disturbing precedent and raises serious concerns about the erosion of civil liberties. - The 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 is under attack: the imprisonment of a peaceful protester sends a chilling message to climate activists and undermines the fundamental right to protest - 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 has consequences: the UK government's failure to address climate change has led to increased activism, and now, the silencing of dissenting voices - The intersection of 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: this case highlights the urgent need to protect the rights of climate activists and ensure that their voices are heard - A 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: we must support climate activists and continue to push for meaningful action on climate change. The future of our planet depends on it #climatejustice #humanrights #sustainability #oilandgas #climatechange #actnow

Are We Silencing the Solution to Climate Change? How can nations claim to defend human rights globally while cracking down on peaceful climate protesters at home? 🤔 Climate activists should be seen as allies in the fight for our planet, not as criminals. When governments silence these voices, they not only violate basic rights but also embolden regimes that suppress human rights defenders worldwide. The climate crisis is too urgent to ignore—and too critical to suppress. Let’s stand with those fighting for a sustainable future. What can we do to ensure activists are treated as partners, not enemies? 💚✊ #ClimateRights #HumanRights #ClimateAction #ProtestForChange #ActOnClimate