Climate Action

Climate activists and movements fighting against the climate crisis are under pressure across the globe. Environmental defenders, CSOs and young activists are subject to fierce repression that can take various forms: introducing laws criminalizing legitimate expression and assembly, excluding or preventing CSOs from participating in environmental policy making, stigmatisation of activists as “eco-terrorists,” increased use of punitive lawsuits (“SLAPPs”), physical persecution, arbitrary arrests, verbal harassment online and offline, excessive use of police force. These actions are contrary to international standards on human rights and the environment.

ECNL seeks to:

Create an evidence base for advocacy. We monitor country practices and laws that pose a challenge to climate defenders’ right to protest, participate in decision making or access to information. Through our papers we highlight international standards that are central to climate activism. We also collect data on technological and AI safeguards and mechanisms that can help protect and foster climate activism.

Increase awareness of civic space for climate activists. We develop materials for activists, but also for the wider public, to raise awareness of why an open civic space is vital for climate defenders.  We highlight challenges to their civic engagement, the impact of AI on environmental activism and share recommendations for their protection at events, such as at MozFest 2021.

Contribute to global and regional standards setting.  ECNL supports the drafting of the UN Special Rapporteur’s upcoming report to the UN General Assembly on the threats and challenges climate defenders face. Through consultations we convene between the Special Rapporteur and civic groups and providing input, we assist the mandate to document key trends and formulate recommendations.

Click here to read the new COE briefer on Young Environmental Defenders and their rights, prepared with ECNL's contribution and check out the video recording of the launch event with CoE Human Rights Commissioner, environmental activists from Fridays for Future and ECNL below:

ECNL advocates for protections of the civic freedoms of climate activists. In particular, we believe states and the international community should take these minimum steps to protect climate defenders:

1. States should refrain from the use of hate speech, harassment (online and offline) and labelling of activists.
2. States should repeal restrictive laws and practices on the right to participate in policy making and protest, and should protect the protesters against excessive use of force.
3. States and the EU should enact anti-SLAPP legislation to discourage the use of retaliatory lawsuits that silence critics and chill public participation.
4. The international community should reinforce and monitor the implementation of standards related to the freedom of association, assembly and participation of climate activists. It should hold states to account, including by incorporating protections for climate activists in human rights sanction mechanisms.  

• Solving the climate crisis together: ECNL's Eszter Hartay and Ivana Rosenzweigova encourage COP26 delegates to take the pledge for an open civic space in our OpenGlobalRights blog.