As global temperatures continue to soar, there has also been an alarming rise in the number of killings of climate activists and defenders ‘on the frontlines’ of the fight to tackle climate change.
The climate crisis has reached a critical point – humans must take radical, ambitious steps now or face dire, irreversible consequences. The 2015 Paris Agreement signalled a global commitment to mitigate and adapt to climate change, yet the latest annual report by Global Witness indicates that a record number of climate activists have been killed, with 212 deaths in 2019 – an average of four per week. This is a significant increase from the previous year where 164 killings occurred, indicating a worrying upwards trend. The number of activists silenced by attacks, threats, smear campaigns, arrests, and sexual violence is even higher. The report acknowledges that the statistics provided are “almost certainly an underestimate”.
These activists and defenders are defined as individuals who take peaceful action against unjust, discriminatory, corrupt, or damaging exploitation of natural resources or the environment. This ranges from people defending their own communities that are being damaged or threatened by industry, to park rangers, to lawyers, journalists, and politicians making efforts to defend the environment through their work.
The Guardian reported that COVID-19 lockdowns have led to an increase in killings due to greater opportunity to target activists whilst they are at home, as well as difficulties in reporting violence due to quarantine measures.
HIGH-RISK REGIONS
Over half of the 2019 deaths occurred in just two countries: Colombia and the Philippines.
Activists in the Philippines have faced condemnation by their government, and attackers have rarely faced retribution, likely contributing to the increased violence that has resulted in 43 deaths. The 2020 Anti-Terrorism Act enacted by President Duterte’s government has been condemned for using a “vague and overly broad definition of terrorism” that allows “even the mildest government critic to be labelled a terrorist”. The Government have been able to portray climate activists as terrorists, rebels, or communist sympathisers, putting them at higher risk of facing violence.
The 64 reported killings in Colombia included many community and social leaders. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) highlighted a number of reasons for the increase in killings and violence against human rights activists, including challenges with implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and the power shift this has caused at local levels, as well as land restitution and rural reform, and unlawful crop substitution programmes.
The figures in Colombia, as well as high numbers of killings in Brazil, Honduras, and Mexico make Latin America the most dangerous region for climate activists, with over two-thirds of murders occurring here. Latin America has consistently ranked highest in killings since Global Witness began compiling figures in 2012.
THE VULNERABILITY OF INDIGENOUS PERSONS
Indigenous people have played a significant part in the fight against climate change from the outset and have knowledge that is essential for adapting to the effects of climate change. 40% of individuals were murdered belonged to indigenous groups, meaning these communities are both disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change and also more at risk of violence for defending their land.
The vulnerability of indigenous groups is particularly evident in Brazil, where 21 murders took place in the Amazon. Indigenous Amazonian communities have been in conflict with illegal loggers since at least 2000 and the increased deforestation due to President Bolsnaro’s lax climate policies has exacerbated this conflict. Since April 2020, four community leaders of the Guajajara indigenous group have been murdered.
WOMEN DEFENDERS
The number of women activists and defenders doubled in 2019 compared to the previous year.
Angelica Ortiz, who belongs to the Wayuu indigenous community in Colombia has faced numerous death threats and intimidation since campaigning with Fuerza de Mujeres Wayuu – a human rights organisation that aims to protect the rights of the Wayuu community, including from large-scale mining projects and forced displacement. Ortiz was forced to leave behind her children and her community due to concerns for safety. Ortiz told The Independent that “being a protector requires that sacrifice”.
Ortiz also highlighted the particular vulnerability of women who are more likely to face sexual violence, as opposed to killings in response to activism. Many of the Fuerza de Mujeres Wayuu group have been victims of sexual violence – their attackers told them it was to “shut them up”.
STATE INVOLVEMENT
As evidenced above with the behaviour of the government of the Philippines, in many cases states are complicit in this violence. Brazilian President Bolsonaro has referred to environmental NGOs as “harder to kill than cancer”. Despite an increase in killings and threats in 2020, the Colombian government reduced the number of human rights defenders receiving protection from the National Protection Unit. In many of the worst affected nations, there is widespread impunity for attackers. These states have legal obligations to protect human rights activists and defenders in their jurisdiction – they must take steps to protect these individuals, irrespective of their own climate policies and agendas.
Erin graduated from the University of Glasgow and is currently studying a masters in Human Rights Law at the University of Strathclyde. She is particularly interested in using human rights law to tackle climate change at an international and local level, and the effect of climate change on vulnerable groups.