Banks make $26 billion in a decade of financing deforesting companies
New analysis ahead of COP30 in Brazil reveals how efforts to end deforestation are undermined by climate-wrecking profits, as banks in the US, EU and UK make over $10 billion in income since the Paris climate agreement by financing companies involved in deforestation
Road to COP30
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Banking on forests: Inside private sector plans to shape the Tropical Forests Forever Facility
As COP30 looms, a new fund aims to channel climate finance into global markets to turn a profit. Can the same financial actors driving deforestation be trusted to play a role in saving the world’s rainforests?
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Everything you need to know about COP
The UN's COP30 climate summit in Belém will focus on an urgent push for climate adaptation, renewed NDCs and plans to unlock $1.3 trillion of climate finance
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Critical minerals: The one issue COP has forgotten about
To reverse the climate crisis, COP30 must address the unforeseen consequences of the critical mineral boom, which is adding more deforestation and CO2 emissions
A tipping point for COP?
The time for talk is over. COP30 must turn warm words into strong climate action, or risk humanity's future. Stay informed about the climate summit with our newest investigations and analysis
People in, polluters out: Join Global Witness at COP30
We’re bringing together communities, defenders, journalists and policymakers at COP30 to drive climate justice, expose extractive harms and demand accountability
New threats on the frontline
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In numbers: Attacks against defenders since 2012
Explore our full dataset to find out where killings of defenders are occurring, which industries are responsible, and how this violence has changed over time
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Roots of resistance
Land and environmental defenders face extreme violence, criminalisation and lack of protection around the world, with 146 killed or disappeared in 2024
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Documenting killings and disappearances of land and environmental defenders
How we work with partners to gather evidence, verify and document every time a land and environmental defender is killed or disappeared
Toxic platforms, broken planet
Land and environmental defenders are suffering from online abuse, with harassment reportedly leading to real-life violence and silencing those fighting to protect our planet
Criminalisation wave
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The criminalisation of land and environmental defenders in Asia
In Asia, detentions and criminalisation of defenders are becoming increasingly common. Patterns in the types of laws being used are starting to emerge. Here we analyse these and look at how governments weaponise laws to detain defenders in the region
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What is red-tagging, and how does it harm climate action?
Red-tagging – which falsely brands legitimate activists as terrorists – is used to silence land and environmental defenders online and IRL
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Labour must end criminalisation of climate protesters
Five Just Stop Oil activists have been sentenced under the UK's draconian new protest laws criminalising civil disobedience. Will Labour reverse these laws?
Polluters Pay Pact
Extreme weather events are causing widespread destruction and financial hardship. Yet the biggest polluters continue to profit while ordinary people bear the brunt of the costs.
It’s time to make polluters pay. Join the movement.
Make polluters pay
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It's only fair that polluters pay for climate change costs
With the costs of climate change impacts rapidly rising, the billions pocketed by the fossil fuel industry is an insult to the communities worst hit by extreme weather. It’s time to make polluters pay for the damage they’ve caused
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Taxing polluters for a fairer, greener society
Tax Justice UK, Oxfam GB and Global Witness outline a suite of evidence-based policies the UK government could take to ensure those most responsible for climate breakdown pay their fair share and raise billions of vital revenue
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Polluters spend millions lobbying against climate laws in California
As floods and wildfires mount in California, Big Oil has been lobbying hard against Superfund Act, which would make polluters pay for climate change damages
Support our investigations and campaigns
Challenge the power of destructive companies profiting from climate breakdown and put the future of the planet back in the hands of people and communities.
The time for change is now
The climate crisis is no longer an event on the horizon. It’s here, it’s now. Find out how you can support our work to tackle its root causes.
About us
Global Witness is an investigative, campaigning organisation that challenges the power of climate-wrecking companies, and stands with the people fighting back