New Report: UN Special Rapporteur exposes rising global threats and systemic retaliation against environmental defenders under the Aarhus Convention
Report on key trends and threats regarding environmental defenders, September 2025
The Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders reports on key trends and threats regarding environmental defenders that he identified from 24 June 2022 to 1 September 2025....
The present document draws on the complaints received, discussions with environmental defenders during meetings, events and visits, and the above-mentioned regional consultations....
Private individuals seeking to protect the environment in their private or professional capacity are a key target of threats....
Associations, organizations and groups working to protect the environment are also a key target of threats...
The two most common perpetrators are the State, including through its public authorities and officials, and companies....Threats against environmental defenders come from all branches and levels of government....
Regarding private companies, threats against environmental defenders primarily come from companies headquartered in a Party and operating in the same Party or outside the territory of Parties....
The threats against environmental defenders relate to several key industries and sectors.
Both within and outside the territory of Parties, the energy transition and associated development of the renewable energy and mining sectors have increased the challenges and threats faced by environmental defenders....
Across regions, environmental defenders are operating in an increasingly restricted civic space....The stigmatization of environmental defenders through negative portrayals is a global trend....Verbal and physical threats, including death threats and threats of physical harm, are a very common form of penalization, persecution or harassment..
The Special Rapporteur has also identified abusive and intimidatory tactics used by law enforcement officials as a key form of penalization....SLAPPs are a common and increasing form of penalization...Some environmental defenders also face penalization through punitive measures that affect their immigration status...