Land and Environmental Defenders

Hundreds of land and environmental defenders are threatened, arrested and killed every year for their part in resisting environmental devastation. We record every name and honour their activism.

Defenders and Indigenous Peoples are often our planet’s last line of defence, sounding the alarm about threats to vital ecosystems and incursions upon their communities from destructive companies. In return, they face land invasions, harassment and violence, with a worrying rise in criminalisation hitting environmental activists worldwide. We work to expose the root causes behind these attacks to ensure defenders are protected, and that those responsible are held to account.

Land and Environmental Defenders

Latest

Climate Week NYC takeaways: No time to lose for humanity

Bridging the gap between climate change and human rights: Introducing the Leaders Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders

More than 2,100 land and environmental defenders killed globally between 2012 and 2023

Missing voices

Everything you need to know about COP

Global Witness condemns escalating arrests of climate campaigners in Uganda

Philippines Court of Appeals ruling raises concerns over safety of environmental defenders

Harsh jail time for climate activists threatens democracy and climate action

Labour must end criminalisation of climate protesters

How will the EU's new law fight corporate power and help environmental defenders?

Biodiversity and forest defenders: The stakes of COP16

Concern grows for Tanzanian communities opposing TotalEnergies’ oil pipeline

Justice restored after historical ruling upheld in retrial for murder of four Indigenous leaders

“She ignites a flame of inspiration within me”: The women behind our climate action

Honduras: why urgent action is still needed in one of the deadliest places to defend the planet

Fuelling oppression

Land and Environmental Defenders: Annual Report archive

ADNOC-backed Indian oil project tainted by allegations of land grabs, oppression and journalist's murder

Attacks against West Africa’s defenders have been invisible for too long. That’s about to change

COP28 verdict: After 28 attempts, governments finally agree to ”transition away” from fossil fuel use

Land and environmental defenders protect our planet – but they cannot halt climate change without access to justice

Climate of fear

Why Indigenous voices must be central to negotiations at COP28

Statement on the killing of renowned anti-mining activist and Indigenous environmental defender in Mexico

The Saweto trials cannot lead to another missed opportunity for justice in the murder of four Peruvian Indigenous leaders

New York Climate Week and the road to COP28 – 5 takeaways

New York Climate Week and the road to COP28 – 5 takeaways

Two Filipino environmental advocates violently abducted after opposing controversial airport project

Standing firm

Almost 2,000 land and environmental defenders killed between 2012 and 2022 for protecting the planet

Joint statement on suspension of reclamation projects in Manila Bay, Philippines

Amazon Summit must put environmental defenders at the heart of commitments, as leaders convene in Brazil

Global Witness strongly condemns the criminalisation of four land and environmental activists as ‘terrorists’ in the Philippines