EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Global temperatures reach new highs. Arctic ice continues to melt. Each summer brings news of fires burning through climate-critical forests. If we want to change these headlines, or avoid reading progressively worse ones, it could not be clearer that we are running out of time. Communities across the world are standing up to carbon-intensive industries and exposing unsustainable business practices wreaking havoc on ecosystems and our climate. These are the people on the frontline of the climate crisis, trying to protect climate-critical areas and reverse these devastating practices. For years, land and environmental defenders* have been the first line of defence against the causes and impacts of climate breakdown. Time after time, they have challenged the damaging aspects of industries rampaging unhampered through forests, wetlands, oceans and biodiversity hotspots. Yet despite clearer evidence than ever of the crucial role they play and the dangers they increasingly face, far too many businesses, financiers and governments fail to protect them in their vital and peaceful work.
MORE KILLINGS THAN EVER BEFORE This report is based on research into the killings and enforced disappearances of land and environmental
defenders between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019. It also shows the broader range of non-lethal threats and criminalisation that they face. The documented number of lethal attacks against these defenders continues to rise. Again, we are forced to report that this is the highest year ever for killings – 212 were murdered in 2019. On average, four defenders have been killed every week since December 2015 – the month the Paris Climate agreement was signed, when the world supposedly came together amid hopes of a new era of climate progress. Countless more are silenced by violent attacks, arrests, death threats, sexual violence or lawsuits – our global map provides a picture of the broad array of methods used to deter communities from protecting their land and environment. Shockingly, over half of all reported killings last year occurred in just two countries: Colombia and the Philippines. Reports show that murders of community and social leaders across the country have risen dramatically in Colombia in recent years – and, with 64 activists killed, those protecting their land and the environment were most at risk. The Philippines, a country consistently identified as one of the worst places in Asia for attacks, saw a rise from 30 killings in 2018 to 43 last year. Mining was still the most culpable industry – connected with the murders of 50 defenders in 2019. Communities opposing carbon intensive oil, gas and coal projects faced continued threats. Attacks, murders and massacres were used to clear the path for commodities like palm oil and sugar. In 2019, Global Witness documented 34 killings linked to large-scale agriculture – an increase of over 60% since 2018.
* We define land and environmental defenders as people who take a stand and peaceful action against the unjust, discriminatory, corrupt or damaging exploitation of natural resources or the environment. For more detail, see our methodology on page 40.
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