UN Warns of Rising Attacks on Green Defenders

Planet over Profit is a widely-used slogan in environmental protests worldwide.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Thursday called for stronger protection of environmental and land defenders, noting that hundreds worldwide have been killed, disappeared, or detained in recent years.

His appeal came during remarks at the first-ever European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders in Strasbourg, France, where he warned that Europe is warming at twice the global average rate, bringing increasing floods, shrinking glaciers, and more frequent heatwaves.

“Extreme weather kills thousands of Europeans every summer,” he said. “Across the continent, 95% of urban residents breathe unsafe air, and more than 80% of habitats are in poor or bad condition.”

Activists Under Threat

Mr Türk praised environmental defenders who speak out, mobilise communities, and take concrete action to protect the planet, local communities, and democracy.

“The environmental justice movement is a powerful human rights alliance uniting science, law, ethics, philosophy, and art — an alliance that cannot be defeated in a fair contest,” he said.

“That is why some of its opponents resort to brutal and dishonest measures. They kill, abduct, detain, and weaponise laws meant to protect people’s rights.”

Hundreds Killed, Disappeared, or Detained

The High Commissioner said the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has documented nearly 600 environmental and land defenders killed or disappeared worldwide over the past three years.

“In at least 55 countries, activists have been detained for defending environmental and land rights,” he added.

He noted that while many European countries take pride in ambitious climate and environmental goals, new laws criminalising peaceful protest are still being enacted.

“It is shocking that people defending our children’s future are prosecuted under laws designed to fight terrorism and organised crime,” he said.

“I urge all governments to ensure the safety of environmental defenders and accountability for all abuses.”

He also called on authorities to respect court rulings and establish a stronger regional protection system for environmental defenders.