Environmental protests are increasingly met with severe repression and criminalization, threatening democracy and human rights, according to UN special rapporteur Michel Forst.
Europe has seen a surge in police brutality and heavy-handed legal measures against environmental defenders, often using outdated or new restrictive laws.
Public discourse often labels environmental activists as "eco-terrorists" or "green Talibans," inciting public and media hostility.
Countries like Italy, Germany and the UK employ laws to criminalize peaceful protests, with harsh sentences and severe legal penalties.
Key quote:
"In terms of freedom of speech and the right to protest, certainly in regards to climate change, the world is moving in the wrong direction."
— Michel Forst, UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders.
Why this matters:
The repression of environmental activists undermines basic human rights and stifles efforts to address climate change. This atmosphere of fear can stymie broader civic engagement and deter necessary actions to address environmental crises. At a time when urgent action is needed to combat climate change and environmental degradation, silencing activists could have negative consequences for the planet and future generations.
The UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders Michel Forst has said the UK’s crackdown on climate protesters is chilling, regressive and a restriction on fundamental freedoms.
