“To avoid climate breakdown, we must protect those who protect the environment”, 20^th September 2019

…PBI accompanies environmental defenders and activists in different parts of the world as part of our commitment to protect the environment and prevent further climate breakdown.  The people we accompany often put their own lives on the line to defend their land, territory and natural resources in steadfast conviction of their importance for humanity and for the health of our planet.  Without these people who stand up to the economic interests that threaten the health of our planet, the unique threats that currently face the earth will cause drastic changes in climate and an increase in suffering for the most vulnerable…

It is only through ensuring that these people are safe and can carry out advocacy in favour of human rights that the international legal framework is upheld and peoples´ rights are truly respected, protected and fulfilled.

This idea can and must be extended to environmental protection.  Those who defend their water, their mountains and their ecosystems are at the frontline of environmental protection and must be able to continue their work in secure conditions.  They are at risk due to the powerful economic and political interests that lie behind environmental destruction…